The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-06-03
VISITOR TELLS OF
WORK Being DONE
BY HEALTH GROUP
Head Of National Public Health
Body Talks at Country Club
Dinner Meeting

How the fight against tuberculosis
has been carried on throughout the
nation was described to approximate
ly 30 Bismarck residents Tuesday
night by DR.. Kendall Emerson, exec
utive secretary Of the American Pub
lie Health association, who was a Wis
itor in the city.
DR.. Emerson, noted surgeon and
public health worker, was guest OF
honor at a dinner given at the Coun-
try club by the North Dakota Tu-
berculosis association, which has its
headquarters here.
Emphasizing the fact that the
backbone Of the public health move
ment lies in the local communities
and that the fight against tubercu-
losis is one which demands united
public effort, DR.. Emerson said that
organizations such as the North Da-
kota group are responsible for the
great advances which have been made
in combating this disease. The ma
tional organization is merely q union
of the various state groups and can
not be strong unless they are strong
he said.
The national body spends between
five and a half and six million dol
lars annually on disease prevention
work, he said, the money representing
S per cent of the money raised
through the sale Of Christmas Seals
Its work in this country, he said. Is
to provide q clearing house OF infor-
nation which may become available
from any quarter and means fo1
united action on the part OF the COM
ponent state associations.
It is necessary, he said, that some
one be able 10 speak on public health
matters from a national standpoint
and the association, as the represent
alive of the state organizations does
this. In addition, the speaker said
it forms a point of contact between
persons interested in this work II
this country and those performing
similar services abroad.
Among the missionary works done
by the association, d.. Emerson said
is the financing of anti-tuberculosis
movements in Bengal, India, and II
Jamaica. Organizations there, facing
a tremendous tuberculosis death rate
appealed for support and 1t wa
granted, more than 10000 900 seals be-
ing sent to each place for sale as
means of raising funds. =
Various state associations are help
ing to finance research work wnlcr
hopes to find a specific cure for tu'
berculosis, Dr.. Emerson said, and de-
scribed the nature Of these expert
ments. One of the things which has
been discovered, he said, Is that the
minute organism. which causes the
disease has much the same ingred-
tents as the human body and appears
TO live in q microscopic, wax-like en-
velope. This covering, he said, appar-
emily makes it impossible to kill the
germ when present in the human
body without, at the same time, KALI
ing the patient.
DR.. Emerson stopped here en- route
to New York from the Western Con-
ference of the American Public Health
association, held recently at Seattle
Tuesday afternoon he conferred with
executives ard directors Of the state
association here.
After the dinner, at which Mrs. E.
P. Quain, president Of the North Da-
kota tuberculosis association, presid-
ed, Mary Slater gave several dance
numbers and Marion Slater sang and
recited. Piano accomplishments were
played by Abigail Roam.
Mrs. r. w. SINNERS, Mandan, sang
several solos