The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-06
SEAL DRIVE MERITS SUPPORT

Health becomes more and matter of pre-
ventve practice and the emphasis has been shifting
away from curative processes Communities now d.
rect their efforts at shutting the doors disease
Their energies applied through sanitary processes
to rendering the development of health pers impossible
or relatively so. The whole country is organized IN
various ways to make health paramount by prevention
of disease.
Standing high on the roster of these organized dis
ease-combatng movements is that of the Christmas
seal, with it's purpose of combating tuberculoss-the
"dread disease of Charles Dickens day, later termed
the "whitc plague" such its ravages before So
ciety turned to against it and began the great
crusade which takes the form of the annual Christ
mas seal drive. Since then the disease has been
brought to a standstill and turned back.
Science has discovered that fresh air and rest are
the great essentials in curing tuberculosis That is,
taken in its early stages and subjected to these and to
sunshine, the dread scourge can be controlled So
it has become matter of providing these conditions,
and in the proportion these provided SO is the
ratio Of in fighting against the spread Of the
disease. tuberculosis seeks out it's victims mostly
among those who lack of fighting back, the
undernourished- means, very largely. children
those lacking in comforts, the worker subjected to
sapping toll.
The fight against tuberculosis thus has taken the
form Of raising great funds to provide the rest
sential to combating it, to finance open-ar camps
where the afflicted may find that essential contact
with pure air and nvigorating sunshine.
Such drive now is here, in common with like
drives all the country to raise funds by the sale
Of Christmas seals. 1t has started out well, but the
cause is large to be satisfied with what has been
accomplished far Bureigh county second in
the state last year in the amount OF cash raised OF
the seal sales 1t is worth striving for to be first this
year, and besides the honor Of achieving that
there is the cause to consider. There is more
worthy. The way to make the top Of the column ii
North Dakotas support Of the movement is to keel
buying the seals from now till Christmas, when thu
drive closes. North Dakota raised $94O.lO for tn,
in 1909. In 1927 this total had jumped to S25,
96S.27. Support Of the movement increases each
ceeding year. This is not the time for any et-ul
therefore, here in Bismarck and Burleigh county.
According to the seal association, the need in tn,
state is great. In 1925 the number Of deaths from
tuberculosis in the state 3l8 Of whom 40 wer,
children under IA years Of age. In 1927 there were
301 deaths and 140O known in the state. Th
old idea that all tuberculosis was inherited is nov
known to be erroneous 1t is spread by conditions
from person to person.
North Dakota applied it's funds last year to GOO
purpose in the the infection There wcr
2,59S,627 stamps sold at cent EACH The money wa
applied to maintaining Camp Grassck the states frs
fresh air and nutrition camp for school children; wit
providing equipment for the children's buildings t
nursing SERVICE to health supplies for schools; eu
catonal work in care, cure and prevention of tubel
cuosis to school prevention and corrective work
children.
The North Dakota work is absorbed in the genera
accomplishments Of the crusade the country owe
against tuberculosis. In the past 20 years the deaf
rate from the disease has been cut in haf-a savin
of more than 125,000 lives in the year 1923 alone
These accomplishments the best argument fo
support CT the 1t remains for Burleg
county to discharge its duty by this praseworth
movement and to put the local seal drive wit
the shining Of leadership.