The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-12-06
COME ABOARDv

Flying smoothly over the spray
tossed waves, the ship of health IS
coming into port Full sail, with PEN
nants floating against the blue sky
she is homeward bound with her car
go of priceless treasure. On her main
sail is the emblem of her successful
trip-the double-bar cross. She is
a Roman galleon and her oarsmen
may not rest in their efforts to bring
her safely home. She is an argosy,
sailing with favorable winds, and she
is symbolic of the happiness that can
come from perfect health.
Twentyfour years ago the ship of
health was launched-the educational
campaign to control tuberculosis was
started. During those years in both
rough unsettled weather as we'll as
on fair, smooth seas, the ship has
steadily kept to her course. Men with
vision have been at her wheel and her
crew has been made up Of hundreds of
partners who have come aboard" to
help in making the voyage prosper.
And these are some of the ways by
which the crew has been successful in
overcoming sea monsters, buccaneers.
hurricanes and typhoons-in other
words the old pirate-sickness. Or
ganization of the voluntary health
agencies that carry on the educational
campaign under the leadership of the
National tuberculosis Association has
been enlarged from five States, who in
1904 actively worked together against
tuberculosis, to forty-eight states with
antituberculosis associations. Affili-
ated with the States there are today
1,400 associations and societies thru
out the country.
There are now COS sanatoria and
hospitals with Y, 1913 beds for tuber-
culosis patients in the United States.
In 1904 there were only 100 hospitals
with less than 5000 beds. There are
over 5000 especially trained tubercu-
losis nurses and thousands of others
who are doing tuberculosis work. There
are 600 tuberculosis clinics where per-
sons may be examined to keep track
OF. their health. At preventoria and at
summer health camps and in the hun
dreds of open air schools, mal-nour-
ished and substandard children are be-
ing built up in order to resist disease.
Coordinated research work is being
conducted in the best laboratories in
the belief that some day a cure will
be found
One of the most forceful and perm
anent methods used in controlling tu-
berculosis is education in the ways Of
health. The continuous plea for peo-
pie to get plenty of rest, exercise,
fresh air and nourishing food and that
they go to their doctors for periodic
physical examinations is really the
keynote Of the campaign. In the
spring the tuberculosis associations
will conduct an early diagnosis cam
paign with the slogan early Discov-
cry, Eearly Recovery. Let Your Doc
tor Decide" Then in December during
the annual Christmas seal sale, big
publicity campaign is carried on to
teach the public the Importance of
sickness prevention.
At this time the work of the associ-
alton is greatly aided by the coopera-
ton Of newspapers, magazines, house
organs and trade journals who con-
tribute editorial and advertising space
for the Christmas messages of health.
The ways by which we measure the
success or failure of any venture is to
view the accomplished result. And the
fact that during these years the death
rate from tuberculosis has been reduc-
ed from 200 per 100000 in 1904 to 81
in 1926 seems to be evidence enough
that the work has been worth while.
The saying, when my ship comes
in" is happy motto for tuberculosis
workers. That day will come when
tuberculosis is as well controlled as
smallpox, plague and yellow fever.
For the present, however, it is neces-
sary to keep the ship of health con-
stantly plying its course toward the
desired port. Everybody has chance
to come aboard in December when
the tiny seals are being bought and