72 A HISTORY OF NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION 



"8. THE TUBERCULOSIS DEATH-RATE 



"From the standpoint of mortality, the tuberculosis death-rate has fallen 

 from 93 per 100,000 in 1917 to a rate corresponding to 76 for the first five 

 months of 1919. This is an encouraging showing, in view of the fact that the 

 tuberculosis death-rate in similar Massachusetts communities has in general 

 materially increased. 



"9. THE TOWN'S RESPONSE 



"The town of Framingham has responded with vision and effectiveness to 

 the remarkable opportunities offered by the establishment of the Demonstra- 

 tion. The Local Board of Health, the School Committee, the Civic League, 

 and many of the employers of labor, have met the challenge to make Framing- 

 ham the model "Health Town" with constructive responses of a high order. 



"10. LOCAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT 



"Even more important from the practical standpoint has been the notable 

 development of public health work in Framingham along a wide variety of 

 lines. 



"n. THE HEALTH AND SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS 

 "The local health department has grown to be a strong and effective one, 

 and the system of medical inspection of school children, organized under the 

 Department of Education, represents one of the best examples of such service 

 to be found in the United States. 



"12. THE COMMUNITY BENEFITED 



"It seems clear that if the Framingham Demonstration should cease on 

 January i, 1920, the local community will have benefited materially and many 

 important contributions will have been made to the practical control of tuber- 

 culosis. 



"13. NEED FOR LOCAL CO-ORDINATION 



" It seems to us if the Demonstration is to be continued that it might be of 

 service to organize in Framingham a Health Council which would include the 

 Health Officer, or a Board of Health representative as Chairman, with repre- 

 sentatives of the School Committee, the Civic League, the Framingham Hos- 

 pital, the Red Cross, the medical society, and the Demonstration, this 

 council to serve as a clearing-house for the co-ordination of health activities 

 and the planning of the most effective public health machinery for the com- 

 munity as a whole. We deem it to be of great importance to transfer the 

 work to them (the local agencies) as rapidly as possible. 



"14. THE FOUNDATION LAID 



"The foundation has been well laid; a program for the control of tubercu- 

 losis by early diagnosis and hygienic care has been organized on ideal lines; 

 local sentiment both in the medical and lay circles has been successfully de- 



