Evening star., 1937-11-27
ID. c. TUBERCULOSIS
SEAL DRIVE OPENS
Radio Address by Mrs. Grant
in BIimp Appeals for
Funds.

Washington's annual campaign fol-
the sale Of anti-tuberculosis Christ
mas seals was launched yesterday with
radio address from q blimp flying
over the city and a statement from
the District Commissioners urging all
residents to support the drive. =.
Mrs. Ernest r. Grant. managing
director of the District tuberculosis
Association. was interviewed while a
passenger in the blimp by James E
Chinn, q reporter for The Star. Look
ing down on the city, Mrs. Grant de-
clared that tuberculosis is stretching
insidious fingers toward every one OF
those peaceful homes over which we
are now passing"
Mrs. Grant pointed to slum sections
lying below and said Washington ha,
the second highest death rate from
tuberculosis in the country because OF
ALLEY dwellings. improper sanitation
frightful overcrowding, unemployment
and poverty" and because the city
has not raised enough man power
successfully to battle these conditions
Gallinger Hospital.
With regard to what has been done
to cope with the situation. Mrs. Grant
said the tuberculosis wards of Gal
linger Hospital are overcrowded anc
patients too often are In advanced
stages Of the disease before they car
be admitted. The hospital, she said
needs a full-time tuberculosis spe-
cialist, always in command, and ad-
ditional nurses to look after the pa
tients"
Mrs. Grant pointed out that thu
summer camp for children is Away.
filled to capacity, with a waiting list
each year. and that the new sana.
torium for children and adults Al
Glenn Dale, Md. is short Of fund!
and cannot operate to capacity.
THE hospital could be filled with
serious cases in less than a week il
the patients could be admitted anc
given proper attention." Mrs. Gran,
said. But there is shortage Of
money. For every bed that is un.
occupied in that hospital there is q
tubercular patient in some home ir
the city-a patient not only danger.
Gus to himself, but to all those about
him."
Spreads From Slums.
Mrs. Grant pointed out the disease
is no respecter OF the wealthy, that i,
spreads from the slums to the fines,
residential districts. She urged al
residents to invest in Christmas seals
In conclusion she said:
Until we all work together the
enemy will spread among us, destroy.
ing bodies and wrecking homes Al
of us must help kill the white plague
with Christmas seals"
In their statement supporting the
drive the Commissioners pointed oui
that last year tuberculosis claimed 81,
times as many lives as traffic acci-
dents.
In that year. the statement con-
tinued. by official record of our Health
Department, 66l persons died pre-.
maturely from tuberculosis, form Of
disease now known to be preventable
and, II taken in time, durable"
The Commissioners said the Gov
ernment has not adequate appropria
tions" for tuberculosis work here. and
that "a way to provide these funds in
which all can share is now again pre-
sented in the annual sale Of the penny
Christmas Seals We are, therefore
happy to join with our colleagues in
urging all to aid in this necessary
work for the protection of all by
using as many of these little seals as
they. can afford"