Evening star., 1935-04-20
D. c. TUBERCULOSIS
DRIVE IS OPENED
Rutland Seeks to Test All
School Children for
Symptoms.

symptoms.
Continued From First Page)
the skin test; DR.. Cumming. DR.. A.
c. Christie, in charge of the X-ray
operations: DR.. Murphy. In charge OF
school set-ups for the tuberculin tests.
Skin Test Included.
The examinations will be the same
as that approved by the National In
stitute of Health and consists OF
skin test, to be followed by x-ray
examinations and a physicians dag
nosis II the skin test shows the SUBJ
ject is tubercular, DR.. Rutland said.
The X-rays will be taken with spe-
cial portable machines that have been
used recently In Army and Navy hos
pitals and in several such campaigns
in the various States. These machines
have been approved by the National
Institute OF Health of the Public
Health Service. The whole process Of
examination will take only three min
utes.
1t Is anticipated that about two
students per minute will be put
through the tests with the set-up. DR..
Rutland stressed the harmlessnesa Of
the examination and said that such
an exhaustive test would remove any
doubt from the minds Of parents IS to
the health conditions OF their chill
dren.
This Is only the beginning Of the
work with which we hope to cope with
the dread disease here" DR.. Rutland
said. "Manifestly, we must find the
beginning of all the trouble which has
given Washington such a high NOR
tality rate. First, of course, we must
have funds II we are to carry on the
work. II the Congress will cooperate
with us and give US the working capital,
we are confident that we can cut the
tuberculosis mortality rate here at
least IS per cent"
DR.. Rutland said that 1t was his aim
to take such tests Of children both in
the schools and of those OF pre-school
age. II the disease could be checked
in childhood. the dread disease could
be cut more than so per cent within
a few years. he said. and could prac-
tically be stamped out despite climatic
conditions.
Facilities Never Adequate.
DR.. Rutland called attention to the
fact that the District never has had
adequate tubercular facilities, saying
that until the construction of the
Chlldren's Tubular Hospital at Glenn
Dale, Md. Washington had only one
half q bed for each death from the
disease. where there should be at least
two beds for each death.
Before . student Is given the test
in the present campaign, DR.. Ruhland
said, the consent Of the parents will
be obtained. hence the speaking cam
paign before the various organiza-
tions.
DR.. Rutland pointed out that the
District has the third highest tuber-
culosis mortality rate of any city Its
size in the country and that it Is the
greatest cause of death among chill
dren between the ages Of S and 20
years of age. except accidents, and
that its cost to the people Of the
United States Is more than q billion
dollars each year.
He said Washington Is the only city
of its size in the country that does not
have adequate facilities for the treat
ment as we'll as the prevention OF the
disease He laid this fault at the door
step OF the Congress. but explained
that he was confident that if member,
Of Congress understood conditions here
they would look more favorably upon
supplying funds with which to combat
the disease.
Unusual Service Afforded.
Through tests in the schools and
also in the homes. provided Federal
funds can be obtained with which tc
| carry on the campaign. q service will
be afforded to children which woulc
be impossible under ordinary condi.
tions, DR.. Rutland said.
DR.. Rutland explained that tu.
berculosis usually affects the gland,
Of children and that as they grow
older, unless preventive measures art
taken, it spreads to the lungs. DR.
Rutland said he selected the gradu'
ating students as the best beginning
because Of the possibility of the ad
vanced stages in students where tu
berculosis exists.
Only fully qualified physicians vii
be employed In the project, DR.. Ruh'
land said. X-rays will be taken b.
staff of experts, but the pic.
lures will be studied and diagnosed
by staff of trained physicians. Re-
ports on the findings Of the ply
sicians will be made to the parent!
Of the child, he said.
The national disgrace Of tuber.
culosis conditions here" was described
by DR.. Rutland last night before tn,
| Takorna Park Citizens Association
More Nurses Needed.
The need Of q larger nursing stat
was stressed. Additional nurses neet
not be specialists, but should be abl'
to provide general public health serv'