Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-30
TWO VIEWS OF THE CHRISTMAS SEALS

A great work from an economic point of view as well
as from the humanitarian standpoint is that of the Ans-
tuberculosis League. This organization, through its Christ
mas seals, is appealing for popular support at the present
time and it is worthy of all the assistance that anyone can
give il.
We are all familiar with the humanitarian side of this
movement. Through its efficient corps of workers, its clinics
and its system of education as to the nature of the disease
and how to prevent it, the society is rendering assistance in
hundreds of stricken home. 1t is not only helping those who
are i'll to get we'll, but it is saving others in the same house
hold from contracting the disease. The joy caused by one
member of a family being restored to health can never be
measured in dollars and cents. The peace and contentment
brought about through the efforts of the district nurses are
things that money cannot buy.
But there is another way to look at this matter. There
is the cold FLOODED business basis. This is strictly The eco
nomic point of view. An investigation of the National Tuber-
culosis Association shows that there are at least 4 900, 900
active tuberculosis cases in the United States. There are,
perhaps another million people who have this disease in a
relatively quiescent form.
Of the 1000, 900 active cases of tuberculosis, accord
ing to the records of the United State Bureau of Census,
1872, 900 have died during the past year. In other words,
there have been an average of 100 deaths from consumption
for every 100, 900 population. That would mean, roughly
speaking, that there are about fifty people in Perth Amboy
that die of consumption every year.
This, however, shows a big improvement over the rec
ords of previous years. 1t has been estimated by comparing
the present death rate with that of no longer ago than TWEEN
ty years that a saving of approximately $4,000 lives annual
ly has been effected. When it is realized that this has been
done largely through the efforts of the anti-tuberculosis or
CARNATIONS we begin to realize what effective work they are
doing and the w%orthiness of the cause we are all asked to
support at this time in order that the good work may go on
9TH Increasing effectiveness.
The records show that the greatest number Of deaths
occur between the ages of fifteen and t~hirty-four. These
years when the disease takes the greatest number of lives
are the most productive years of both men and women. 1t
is estimated that if tuberculosis could be eliminated as a
cause of death in this country it would be the equivalent to
adding two and one-half years to the life of every individual.
Capitalizing each individual life at $500 per year, the net
saving to the country would be at least $25, 600, 600, 600
and might run double that sum.
This is piing up money with a vengeance, but it shows
what the stamping out of this disease would mean from a
strictly economic point of view. Add to this the more i'm
portant humanitarian side and who is there that can mini
the importance of the anti-tuberculosis movement?
The Christmas seals at one cent each which the people
are asked to buy in any quantity they desire, furnishes a
worthy cause. Al a time when Christmas cheer is the pre-
vaiing spirit in so many of our homes it is fitting that we
should think of others and do what we can to bring the
same cheer to those less fortunate than we are. Can anyone /
imagine a happier Christmas for a home where the great
white plague has crept in than a parent or child restored
fully to health? This is what the anti-tuberculosis society
is doing through its district nurses and clinics. This work
is maintained entirely through the sale of Christmas seals.
more seals sold the greater the work that can be done.
l.