The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-10-28

Association. The extent OF tne ac-
tivities of this association, made up Of
public-spirited citizens, is evidenced by
the fact that the double-barred cross
has been carried into every county Of
the state. aa
Just at present the Colorado Tuber-
culosis Association and its thousands
Of active supporters are taking stock
of their definite accomplishments dur
ing the past year. The records show
that public health nursing service has
established contacts by doing practical
work in nineteen counties, outside Of
Denver. These counties have an ag-
gregate population of over 100000. In
Guiding the very effective work done
by the Denver tuberculosis Society,
branch of the State Association, the
territory in which this form of anti
tuberculosis effort has been developed
contains more than half the entire
population of Colorado.
A phase of public health nursing,
which is of the utmost Importance, is
concerned with the examination of
school children. In fact, these exami-
nations are in many instances the first
step a community makes towards a
general health survey. Not only in
the average community, but in indus
trial sections this form Of survey has
been carried out and one of the nurses
from the State Association examined
the children in twenty y-eight industrial
communities during the past year.
In addition to the tuberculosis dis
pensaries and clinics in Colorado
cooperation with the State Associa-
ton, clinics are being organized in
Greeley and Pueblo Similar clinics
are contemplated in other places until
it is expected that there will be no
less than a dozen such located in the
various sections of the state. The
clinic in each case is made possible by
the active cooperation of local physi-
clans and dentists, who donate their
services free in order that persons
who cannot afford to pay for medical
treatment may have the benefit of
examinations and treatment. The i'm
portance of this service cannot be
over-rated since early diagnosis is es-
sential II tuberculosis is to he sue
cessfully treated and arrested.
But even with a dozen clinics To-
Gated in as many counties Of Colo
RADIO, there still remain sections of the
state where the population is so thinly
scattered that 1t would be inadvisable
to maintain a permanent clinic. To
meet the requirements of such places,
the Colorado tuberculosis Association
is planning to operate a travelling
clinic. In other states, where similar
conditions exist, travelling clinics have
been used with marked success. Such
clinics range from a motorcycle with
Q side-car, carrying physician and a
nurse, to a large truck fitted up with
the furnishings of q permanent clinic.
The form which will be adopted in
Colorado has not yet been decided upon,
but II can confidently be said that it
will strike medium between these two.
Preventive work, especially in the
distribution Of literature explaining
the simple rules of hygiene necessary
to insure health, 10 an effective form
Of the activities Of the association.
But the most interesting phase of pre-
ventive work is the Modern Health
Crusade. This movement, in which
are enrolled children Of grade school
age, is designed to teach the little
ones habits Of health which will re-
main with them throughout their lives
At present there are 129,126 chill
dren enrolled as Crusaders and they
are in schools in every county In the
state. With the spread Of this move
ment and Its hearty endorsement by
physicians and educators, the expecta-
tion is justified that during the COM
ing year there will be 100 per cent en-
rollment of the eligible school children
in Colorado, numbering approximately
100000.
The need of the work which the
Colorado Tuberculosis Association is
carrying on is shown by the appalling
fact that one death in every six deaths
occurring in this state during the past
year was due to tuberculosis. Many
authorities have gone so far as to say
that deaths from tuberculosis are un-
necessary since 1t is preventable and
curable, IL the people can be made to
understand its nature and to follow
the rules Of living which have been
laid down and proved effective through
years Of observation.
The Crusade of the double-barred
cross has been carried on In this coun-
try for sixteen years and the National
tuberculosis Association, with which
the Colorado tuberculosis Association
is affiliated, has adopted the signifi-
cant slogan to accompany the double
barred cross: I'm this sign we shall
conquer"
Every child has right to be a.
healthy as nresenf knnXledRe can