DISCUSSION ON TUBERCULOSIS. 713 



time being in the State. The fault lies partly in the disease con- 

 sumption itself ; it is not a sufficiently spectacular disease. It is 

 not frequently fulminating, and as it drags out its weary and 

 deadly course, as a rule for a long period, it accustoms men to its 

 existence and prevalence. There is nothing sufficiently dramatic 

 in its onset, it so seldom stands in the glare of the limelight. 

 Smallpox and plague, on the other hand, although claiming mucli 

 fewer victims in our country, are promptly and drastically legis- 

 lated for. Large sums of money are spent in the means of pre- 

 vention, and rightly so. Why then this deadly apathy in connec- 

 tion with the prevention of tuberculosis — a disease which is for ever 

 going on in our midst ? 



Years ago a good stand was made, and sanatoria for both early 

 and advanced cases were established. This is well, but is only the 

 commencement of a movement which should aim at completeness 

 and finality. 



The main factor appears to be the ignorance of the people 

 as to the way the disease is disseminated. They should be taught 

 exactly how it is conveyed and the methods by which its spread 

 may be prevented. The people are willing and waiting to be 

 taught, and the most effective way of doing so is to establish tuber- 

 culosis dispensaries in easily accessible spots in the city, where 

 sufferers may come for advice. There their disease may "^ be diag- 

 nosed and treated, and they may be shown the dangers of spitting, 

 the necessity for sunlight and fresh air, and a gospel of hope 

 preached to them. Thus would the sufferings of thousands be 

 lessened and the seeds of future resistance to the disease firmly 

 implanted. Surely this is little enough to ask of any paternal 

 Government : that a few hundred pounds annually be set aside 

 for the upkeep of even one of such dispensaries. This is not a 

 matter for public charity— a dole from a few interested and kind 

 enthusiasts, but a question of truly national importance. It 

 deals with the constant and steady destruction of a large per- 

 centage of our population. What, then, should interest a Govern- 

 ment more closely than this ? What shall we do to open the eyes 

 of those who sit in high places, and make them see the crying 

 necessity of at once allowing us to start on our work of eradication ? 

 We know what is required, and we know that nothing of any 

 lasting benefit can be done without funds. With a comparatively 

 small amount we would be enabled to start our work of aggression, 

 and we know by the experience of other countries that this is no 

 idle experiment, but that great good has been done, and still 

 remains to be done. Much has already been accomplished here. 

 Our Board of Health and City Council have worked well, but the 

 bulk of the work remains to do, and cannot be done unless the 

 necessary money is forthcoming. Surely this is an object to arouse 

 the sympathies of any Government in the world. 



When those in authority are told by experts in tuberculosis 

 that thousands of lives are being sacrificed annually to a disease 



