24 A HISTORY OF NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION 



"Considering the various congresses, I do not hesitate to express a feeling of 

 deep anxiety. The first one mentioned, which for reason of brevity I will call 

 'The Bell Congress,' because it owes its inception to Mr. Clark Bell, has not, to 

 my knowledge, the support of our best men. The second congress in point of 

 time, which again, for the sake of brevity and clearness, I may call ' The Lewis- 

 Brown Congress' (names of the president and secretary), while it has many 

 distinguished men of various State and provincial boards of health among the 

 members, has, like the Bell Congress, thus far not among them the men we are 

 wont to look up to as leaders in movements of this kind. 



"What are our confreres across the water to think if they hear of two 

 American congresses on tuberculosis and each having an international one 

 under its auspices? The European authorities found it best, instead of having 

 a triennial congress, to have one more year intervene. This will make the 

 congress in Washington and the one in Paris convene in the same year (1905). 



" If President Francis, of the St. Louis Exposition, desires that a tuberculosis 

 congress shall be held in St. Louis, let him call to his aid some of the men who 

 are recognized as leaders in our profession. They will counsel with him on the 

 advisability of such a congress, and if it is decided that one should be held, Mr 

 Francis can be assured that the best element of Europe and America will come 

 to St. Louis to contribute to its success. 



"The officers and members of the Lewis-Brown Congress must realize that 

 they cannot expect their international meeting in Washington to be successful, 

 when, six months later, there will be held an international congress in Paris. 

 I hope that there will be enough patriotism and national pride for all interested 

 to realize that to have two American congresses on tuberculosis is an anomaly, 

 and that, if the St. Louis Congress is to be a success, it must be in the hands 

 of medical men well and favorably known in this country and abroad. 



"As a solution of the problem I beg leave to suggest the following: During 

 the Tuberculosis Exposition in Baltimore next January all interested should 

 meet on a certain date on this neutral ground for the purpose of coming to an 

 agreement about a single representative national or international tuberculosis 

 congress which will convene in Paris." 



Prior to its publication the letter had been submitted to a few 

 prominent men who were particularly interested in the situation, 

 as the author did not wish to assume the entire responsibility in 

 so important a matter. Following are some of the encouraging 

 replies which made the publication of such a letter seem most 

 timely. Sir William Osier, then Professor of Medicine of Johns 

 Hopkins Medical School, wrote: 



"BALTIMORE, MD., Nov. 25, 1903. 



"Excellent in every way! There is not a word to alter, and I have nothing 

 to suggest. It hits the nail fairly and squarely on the head. I feel that we 

 should organize a national committee which should be in touch with the Con- 



