Evening star., 1926-10-05
WHITE PLAGUE.FOES
SEE WARASUCCESS.
Scientific Fight on Tubercu-
Iosis SIashes Death Rate in
Half, Is Report.

The scientific battle waged with in
,reasing success by physicians, sci.
,ntists and nurses against the white
plague has resulted in a slashing in
half the death rate from tubercu-
losis since 1907 and has made pos
sible a known economic saving of
more than $550,000,000 annually.
These declarations were made this
morning by Homer Folks, secretary
If the New York State Charities Aid
Association and member of the New
York Public Health Council, in ad-
lressing the sociological section of
he National tuberculosis Association
in its meeting at the Mayflower
Hotel. The 1000 specialists attend
ng the convention today divided into
four groups for technical studies of
various phases of the fight against
tuberculosis.
Casualty Lists 20 Years Ago Cited.
Pointing to the heavy casualty lists
of 20 years ago, Mr.. Folks asserted
that had the tuberculosis rate of 1907
prevailed in the United States last
year, the total number of fatalities
would have mounted above 200. 900.
And adding to this tragic loss there
would have been q total economic
loss resulting from medical care
nurses bills, loss of earnings and cap
italized future earnings that would
have doubled the $550.000 900 net loss
Of 1907, due to the increase of pop
ulation.'
Lauding the cooperation between
health authorities and specialists, Gov
ernment agents and the public, which
has been a vital factor in the eradi.
cation of the disease, Mr.. Folks said,
"the anti-tuberculosis movement is an
extraordinary instance of a people
moving deliberately and by conscious
effort to improve it's condition and
being privileged to see, within a few
decades, the realization of a large
part of what it hoped to accomplish.
It Is an exceedingly encouraging in
stance of a democracy working to-
ward it's own salvation"
Surg. Gen. Hugh S. Cumming of the
United States Public Health Service.
who is chairman of the session of
disqualification, presided at the ses-
sion of the sociological section this
morning.
Notes Work Done I'm Britain.
Another address of note at the ses-
sion was that of DR.. F. j. II. Courts.
senior medical officer of the ministry
of health, London, England, who ex-
planned how local. county and Fed
eral governments in England are CO.
operating in their fight against the
disease. The federal government,
which through the county organiza-
tions has control of the public treat
ment and disqualification Of tuber-
culosis patients, pays half OF the cost
of treatment, he said. Local city gov
ernments are charged with carrying
out preventive work, disinfection pro-
grams, diagnosis, spreading of infor-
nation about the care OF patient
and general city sanitation. City Off
cials however, he pointed out, can
not spend all the money they choose
on tuberculosis measures, but can
promulgate on those programs ap-
proved by the national ministry
charged with health projects.
Would Make Work International.
DIR. William Charles White Of the
United States Public Health Service,
who is chairman of the research COM
sociation, last night proposed in an ad-
dress that research specialists the
world over be organized into cooper
atiye unit in order that all sections of
the globe might profit by the findings
of the experts in highly developed lab
oratories at widely scattered points.
His plan involves a sort Of pooling Of
the brain power Of the greatest experts
engaged In studying methods of eradi-
eating tuberculosis. While his pro-
posal brought widespread talk of ap-
proval among the delegates, the estab-
lishment of such an international
orga nization, it was pointed out,
would be handicapped by great diff
culties, involving the financing OF the
scheme, approval by the various
nations concerned and the difficulty
of many languages.
The nlan already has worked with
pronounced success in America. DR..
White pointed out. reporting on the
activities of the research committee
of the association.
Greatest Disease Problem.
Sneaking of the necessity Of such
co.oneration, DIR. White said: Because
tuberculosis spreads so extensively in
man and animals, it Is the greatest
economic disease problem in the world.
It should, therefore, be possible to op-
crate this plan OF research on an In
ternational scale. AS no one institute
can house all the brains. so no one
nation can possess all the expert re-
search workers. If the plan of our
association could be extended over the
world. it ought not to be long until we
have the knowledge not only to con-
troll tuberculosis, but also at any stage
to cure it,"
Another outstanding declaration was
that of DIR. B. Weill-Halle, associate
director of the School of Child Wei.
fare, College of Medicine. Paris, who
asserted that infants have been sue
cessfully vaccinated against tubercu-
losiR This -immunizakiQn Of infants