CHAPTER IV 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION'S 

 PROGRAM 



THE trend of development has been steady and consistent. 

 It may be remarked, from a study of the records of the 

 Association, that the number of associations has ap- 

 parently decreased. This is not an indication, however, of a 

 decline in the movement. In the earlier stages of development 

 it was considered desirable to form as many associations as pos- 

 sible. Later experience has shown that a smaller number of 

 associations, more adequately manned and better financed, is 

 the better method of organization. For this reason in New York 

 and other states the number of associations and committees re- 

 corded in the earlier years of the Association's history has been 

 greatly cut down and there has been a consistent effort toward 

 concentration and increased efficiency, which has resulted in a 

 better covering of the ground than was indicated by the larger 

 number of associations in previous years. 



In the case of dispensaries and clinics, the rapid development 

 in the earlier years of work was due to the inauguration of large 

 state systems of clinics and dispensaries in Pennsylvania, Dela- 

 ware, and other states. Within recent years there has been an 

 effort toward increasing efficiency in this work and the number of 

 dispensaries has shown a slower rate of increase. Omitting these 

 local considerations, the development of work in all lines shows a 

 steady expansion. 



That the National Association has made itself felt in the public 

 health field and in the lives of millions of people is evident from 

 the wide-spread interest exhibited in the subject of tuberculosis 

 to-day as contrasted with that of ten or fifteen years ago. In 

 addition to conducting the Sixth International Congress on Tu- 

 berculosis and organizing the traveling tuberculosis exhibits, 

 which have been spoken of above, some of the most significant 



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