Evening star., 1929-12-03
TALKS ON CONTROL
OF TUBERCULOSIS
DR.. Emerson Declares Exam.
ination Must Be Extended
Beyond Lungs.

Discussing New Trends in Tuber-
culosis Work" at the annual meeting of
the Washington tuberculosis Associa-
ton last night, DR.. Kendall Emerson,
managing director of the national body,
warned that while medical men must
hold an open mind to all proposed ad-
vancement in treatment, they should be
slow to adopt changes before fully
proved of value.
"On the whole" said Dr. Emerson,
"there are enough new developments to
justify the belief that we are on the
point of making material changes in
our approach to the subject of tuber-
culosis control But for the present
there should be no lessening of our
efforts to carry out those methods of
proved value, such as rest, sunlight,
fresh air, proper diet and freedom from
physical and mental strain.
"The medical examination Of the
tuberculosis patient now must deal not
only with the lungs, but must include
minute study of all the organs of the
body and then also an examination of
the mental and environmental condi-
tions as WE'LL" he said.
Mortality Cut in Half.
DR.. Emerson pointed out that al
though the mortality of tuberculosis has
been cut in half in the past 20 years the
decline in its morbidity does not show
the same proportionate decrease Re-
ferring to new trends along the line of
treatment, DR.. Emerson said this in
wolves the development of improved sur
gerry. the study OF nutrition and the
value of the Calmette serum. DR.. Emer-
son adverted to the treatment given by
DR.. GerSon in Germany, based on Spe-
cif1c dietary free from meat and salts
of certain kinds. He said that medical
men, however, should be slow to pick up
new theories of treatment until results
are known and proved.
DR.. Emerson in conclusion congratu-
lated the city of Washington upon the
promise of q tuberculosis sanatoriun for
children, provision for which has been
made by Congress.
Summarizes Work Done in City.
Wallace Hatch. as chairman of the
child health committee of the aSSocia-
tion, opened the session with a brief
summary of the work done among the
children of the city during the past
year. This was outlined in the report
prepared by DR.. Viola Russell Anderson
director of the child health educa-
tional department of the association,
The work was mainly divided into
educational work in the school and
home, and in the newly organized clinic
for children. This important phase of
the anti-tuberculosis campaign is adj
vanced through the annual sale Of
Christmas seals.
During the six months, from April 8
to October 8, the number of visits
made to the Children's tuberculosis
Clinic, at 512 I street. totaled LIT, and
902 X-ray pictures were taken. AS a
result of these rigid examinations, 357
childhood contact cases, not previously
known to the Health Department
clinics, were discovered.
Money Needed in Specific Work.
The report expressed the hope that
sufficient funds would be forthcoming
after January /, 1880, to permit the
opening of third clinic on Saturday
mornings to care for patients from is to
morbidity rates in this. age group stay
continuously high, it was said, and
there is an imperative need for a Spe-
clal clinic for this group.
Organization plans for the proposed
new clinic are complete and the Dis
trict Health Department has promised
its cooperation, 1t was reported. 1t
Is proposed also to nave 1olloW-up IN
Struction in the homes.
Continued progress was reported in
the examinations conducted in the
white and colored public schools. An
exhibit In the work of the occupational
therapy department of the tuberculosis
Hospital, financed by the association,
was shown under the direction of Mrs.
Agnes H. Stewart.
Christmas Seal PIaylet Staged.
A Christmas seal playlet, Santa
Finds a Bell Ringer" was staged for
the benefit of the members. Clarence
Ruebsam took the part of Santa Claus.
Robert Miller was the bell ringer. The
play was under the direction of Mrs.
Helen Webb Zeller. Buck Tawney,
baritone, accompanied by Miss Esther
Etzler, sang a solo as an introduction.
After the reading of the report, Mrs.
w. Frank Persons was elected to fill a
vacancy on the board of directors in
the annual elections.
DR.. George M. Kober, president of
the association, was reelected, as were
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, vice president, and
Walter S. Pratt, jr., treasurer.
The following directors were re-elect-
ed for a period of five years ending
November, 1924; Surgeon Gen. Hugh =.
Cumming of the Public Health Service,
John Dolph, Mrs, Ernest r. Grant, Wal
ANa ~ =