NO. I AIR AND TUBERCULOSIS — HINSDALE 37 



Sir William shows that this decrease indicates 17,000 fewer people 

 suffering from tuberculosis in Ireland in 19 12 than there were in 

 1907. This corresponds to a decrease of nearly one-fifth of the 

 total number of cases of tuberculosis. He seems hopeful that within 

 the next few years the death-rate from tuberculosis in Ireland will 

 not be above the average in other countries. 



Undoubtedly hygienic and philanthropic measures are entitled to 

 the credit for this marked improvement and it gives us pleasure to 

 note in this connection the remarkable work of Her Excellency, the 

 Countess of Aberdeen. This noble woman founded in 1907 the 

 Women's National Health Association of Ireland and a vigorous 

 campaign was started which soon roused the whole country to a 

 sense of responsibility in matters of public health and, in particular, 

 to measures necessary for the prevention and cure of tuberculosis. 

 The influence of this organization rapidly spread and within eight- 

 een months no less than seventy branches had been opened through- 

 out Ireland, for the most part opened in person by their excellencies, 

 the Lord Lieutenant and Countess of Aberdeen, and now it has 150 

 branches and 18,000 members. 



While undertaking the reduction of infant mortality, the improve- 

 ment in the milk supply and better school hygiene, the association 

 made a systematic attack on the prevalence of tuberculosis. This 

 included home treatment and its strong ally, the tuberculosis dis- 

 pensary, on a plan similar to that originated by Sir Robert Philip, of 

 Edinburgh ; it included sanatorium treatment ; and it provided special 

 treatment for advanced cases of tuberculosis. In this phase of the 

 work the association had the benefit of £145,623. through the pro- 

 visions of the National Insurance Act. Charitable Americans also 

 contributed handsomely toward the erection of sanatoria now com- 

 prising one thousand beds, the maintenance of dispensaries and of 

 depots for the supply of pasteurized milk.' 



It is interesting to note that the Association also lent its support 

 to the formation of an " Irish Goat Society," believing that the best 

 way to meet the scarcity of milk experienced in many parts of Ire- 

 land is to encourage the keeping of a good breed of milking goats.' 

 Then, too, through the administration o"f the Laborer's Acts nearly 

 fifty thousand cottages with garden plots ranging up to one acre 

 have been built for rural laborers by rural sanitary authorities at an 

 outlay of over £8,000,000. 



We have cited this remarkable campaign of the anti-tuberculosis 



' The late Mr. R. J. Collier and Mr. Nathan Straus. 



