The New York herald., 1922-01-20
BIG CUT In DEATHS
BY TUBERCULOSIS
Experiment at Control Made
in birmingham Reduces
Rate 81 Per Cent.
INTENSIVE METHOD USED
Spread Over Nation Similar
Efforts Would Save 10000
Lives Every Year.

A 81 per cent reduction in the death
rate from tuberculosis In the last five
years has resulted from control OF the
disease by Intensive community meth
DDS" at Framingham, Mass. 1t was an
nounced yesterday by the National Tu-
berculosis Association. The average
death rate for the ten years from 1907
to 1916 inclusive was 121 per 100000.
The death rate for 1921. Just compiled.
Is 40.
The association began its demonstra-
ton in Framingham January I. 1917.
in an endeavor to discover to what ex-
tent tuberculosis could be controlled.
Framingham was selected. It was said
yesterday by Philip J. Jacobs of the
association. as a typical American in
dustrial community. The experiment
was financed by special appropriation
from the Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company.
OF the 1900 inhabitants of the
town $4,000 received physical examina-
tions. AS a result more than 200 cases
of tuberculosis most Of which were un-
known by individuals and all of which
were unknown to the community, were
discovered.
Every Case Cared For.
Provision was made for the adequate
care. either in hospitals or at home, for
every case, whether active OF inactive.
The medical facilities Of the town were
supplemented by full timo medical
consultant supported by the demonstra-
ton.
A campaign of education was started
through the newspapers. in the public
schools and factories and through lee
lures. Much attention was given to the
Improvement of community sanitation.
to factory hygiene. school hygiene and
to other factors that would help to raise
the standard Of individual and commun-
ity health.
The number of tuberculosis cases
under care increased from % to 200 the
first year. and the percentage of cases
discovered in the early or "hopefuI'
stage Of the disease increased from So
TO IS per cent. during the demonstration.
The percentage of cases given proper
sanatorium treatment increased from 10
to As per cent, and the health expendi-
lures in the town increased from about
forty cents per capita to about 80 per
capita per year. The reduction of the
death rate-about two-thirds-means.
according TO Mr.. Jacobs, tndt III tne sdHie
methods were applied to the United
States as whole over $4,000 lives would
be saved annually.
Results Called Impressive.
IAN analysis of the results of the
Framingham demonstration makes 1t, in
my opinion, one of the most impressive
facts of recent years" said DIR. Living
ston Farraud, chairman of the National
Health Council. yesterday. THE logic
of the situation is unavoidable. The
next step is clearly to organize and con-
duct a demonstration on much larger
scale. utilizing the experience of the
Framingham and other related efforts.
'Tf a demonstration covering num-
ber of typical units of population aggre-
eating several hundred thousand could
be carried on for few years and should. |
as believe 1t would. secure results COM
parable with those at birmingham, the |
effect would be so striking as to force |
every municipality in the United States
to appropriate sufficient money to secure
the absolute and speedy control of tuber- |
culesis. ] sincerely hope that men OF
wealth and vision will sec the opportu- |
nifty afforded in some such larger DEM |
onstration."