PREFACE 



THE completion of fifteen years of the active work of the 

 National Tuberculosis Association in January, 1920, seemed 

 to me an opportune time for recording in some more or less 

 permanent form a history of the beginning of the great anti -tuber- 

 culosis movement in the United States and a record of the progress 

 made. This is the reason for this volume. 



My own personal interest in tuberculosis work, extending over a 

 quarter of a century, and my intimate acquaintance with the 

 National Tuberculosis Association from its inception to its pres- 

 ent development, led me to suggest to the Association that such 

 a history should be written. The committee appointed to under- 

 take the matter asked me to write the history and submit it to 

 them for criticism, modification, and approval. The committee 

 was composed of Dr. Hermann M. Biggs, Chairman, Dr. Henry 

 Barton Jacobs, Dr. George M. Kober, Dr. Charles J. Hatfield, 

 and the author. Each member of the committee has read and ap- 

 proved the manuscript and offered helpful suggestions which have 

 been incorporated in the text. 



Their suggestion that my own biography should be added was 

 very flattering, but I have not complied with it for the following 

 reasons: First, not having been an officer of the Association I was 

 not entitled to appear among those who have held such positions ; 

 and secondly, there is nothing of sufficient importance in my own 

 life to be worth recording. I have been a humble soldier in the 

 war against tuberculosis which has been led by great generals. In 

 the early days I had my trials and tribulations like all those who 

 endeavor to do pioneer work. I have been amply rewarded for 

 my work by the good will and friendship of my teachers and col- 

 leagues and that of the officers and directors of the Association 

 who have granted me the privilege of writing the history and have 

 been helpful in making its publication possible. I have acceded 

 to the request of my colleagues of the Historical Committee to add 



