Evening star., 1935-11-03
10000 FREE X-RAY.
TESTS TO Be MADE.
IN HEALTH DRIVE.
New tuberculosis Cases
Sought to Help Lower Dis
ease Toll Here.
EXPERTS TO DIAGNOSE
FINDINGS OF PICTURE
Reports to Be Confidential to
Family Physicians-Two
Ways to Apply.

Ten thousand Washington residents
will be offered free X-ray examina-
tions of the chest during the week
beginning November Is as a major
phase of the 100000 tuberculosis
case-finding program, Health Officer
George c. Rutland announced yes
terday.
Scientific tests to determine cases of
the white plague heretofore undiag-
nosed and not under medical care are
planned as a feature of the drive to
improve the public health of the Ma
tional Capital.
Particular attention is centered on
tuberculosis because the death rate
from this disease is higher here than
in any other city of the country except
one, which Is Western sanatorium
center.
The case-finding program is financed
out of a work-relief grant of 1000
to the District. A staff of about ia
is being assembled to aid in giving
the X-ray tests and to organize infor-
nation and perform follow-up actiu-
ties.
Physicians to Give Advice.
Reports on the results of the tests
will be given confidentially to family
physicians for persons who voluntarily
submit to the examinations. Advice
then will be given on needed cor
rective measures and treatment.
he Health nHnn ic haiy1n accicf n
by members of the District Tubercu-
losis Association, District Medical So
ciety, Medico-C Chirurgical Society and
numerous civic organizations.
Outlining the general program, DR..
Rutland said yesterday:
THE point should be emphasized
that only a limited number of X-ray
chest photographs can be offered to
the public, the number being limited
to 10000 pictures.
"It should be understood that any
person having reason to believe that
he or she is in need of such a chest
examination is eligible to have an
X-ray taken without cost. There are
doubtless many who have been in
contact with known cases of tubercu-
losis. Others have experienced Ger
tain signs Of Ill health indicating the
desirability of chest examination
Then there still are others, such as
domestic servants. for whose health
employers are apprehensive.
Two Ways to Apply.
"All such persons have been ad-
mitted to our x-ray clinic by either
of two methods.
First, they may simply apply to
the Health Department in the District
Building for registration. In return
they will receive a card giving admit
tance to an X-ray clinic at a definite
hour and date.
Second, persons may apply to their
family physician, as all physicians
have been supplied with application
blanks. 1t is only necessary that this
blank be filled out and sent to the
health officer, in return for which a
clinic admittance card will be issued
to the applicant. Or applications may
be made at the office of the Tubercu-
losis Association.
'The X-ray pictures will be taken
at certain centrally located public
school buildings, and each person will
be directed to the desired building at
definite time. Arrangements are be-
ing made for these X-ray pictures
with separate hours for men and
women. wish to emphasize the point
that all of the X-ray films will be
examined and interpreted by experts.
There now are some 5000 known
cases Of tuberculosis under treatment
here, and DR.. Rutland believes there
may be 5000 others not registered at
the health office.