American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-11-11
THE WHITE PLAGUE
BECOMES PROBLEM
N STATE OF UTAH

Dr.. II. q. Merrill of Provo presided
- the Fifth Annual Conference OF the
Utah Public Health association. held
q the Hotel Utah. Salt Lake, Thurs
DAY. Health experts from half doz-
= states were present as were
number of federal health officials.
DR.. Merrill reports the conference
80 Of the most interesting ever con-
Ancted in this state The "white
Plague" was the principal subject dts
enssed.
James II. Wallis, executive secre-
tsry Of the association. read his an
nual report in which the work OF the
association for the last year was re-
viewed. Mr.. Wallis said the Travel.
m Health Clinic maintained ny the
association had found that the tubet
euiosis problem had reached stage
vhich made II imperative for the PEG.
re Of Utah to establish > ssnatorium.
Of the first $50 diagnosed cases he
said, more than one.half we're Utah
born.
"This," Mr.. Wallis said, "disposes
Of the argument that all Utah tuoer'
euiosis Is imported. And besides these
eases which we have examined we
know that there are 200 deaths an
nually in this state from tuberculosis.
This means that there are 1000 active
tuberculosis cases in the state today
After urging that the public give
united support to the proposal for .
sauatorium, Mr.. Willis spoke Of the
work OF the home and school nursing
organizations. This work, he said. 10
being neglected.
at is to be regretted" he declared,
..that in some school districts school
nurses have been relieved from duty
because Of the cry OF excessive tax
alton" h.t
Mr.. Wallis reviewed the results OF
the Modern Health Crusade" In the
schools, saying that II had been &c
successful that dental service would
90 provided wherever possible next
year. In closing he appealed for sup
port for the Christmas Seal campaign
"Until public funds are available
he explained, "health work Is depend
eut on the seal sales for support. II
must be carried on"
DR.. Warren A. Cotton, 81 the Unit
Cd States public health service gave
statistics on Utah tuberculosis In sup
port OF the statements made by Mr.
Wallis.
Dr. II. A. Pattison Of New York
City. medical director OF the Nation
al Tubercul sis association. explained
the purposes OF sanatorla for con
sumptives.
.sThere Is no medicine for that dis
ease. nr. Pattison said ''Frosh air
optimism, rest, ana good food effet
n cure IL the case Is not too far gone
But while that cure Is being EFFECTED
NJ, who come into contact with the
patient are In danger unless they
know what precautions 70 use. Those
who have sanatorium experience
know
"A patient in a home Is subject "a
the MOrTlts ois uohiSosiS ~ -
cannot be as carefree a. In sanator
aum. Furthernsore, he periis the
health OF all who live with him. In
a sanatorium he 10 taught how &c
cure himself and how to protect oth
ers. And when that Is known to all
consumptives the menace OF conta
zion IL ended.
.There is another phase OF the san
storium. II will educate doctors and
nurses to care for and recognize tn
Serculosls. Comparatively few physi
clans outside OF specialists know much
about tuberculosis. Many nurses
some of the hest In Salt Lake, oy the
way-wili not take . tuberculosis
case. They are afraid Of It. Yet II 10
not more dangerous than typhoid. And
they are not afraid Of typhoid
Miss Jessapiine s. whitney OF New
York, statistician for the national as
ISOLATION, supplied statistics which
while they gave Utah the siowest t'fo
srcuiosis death rate. Indicated thai
che percentage was SOARING ~ M
farming rs'c ' ''e'tS5y = -