THE FRAMINGHAM DEMONSTRATION 75 



"IX. WHAT RESULTS MAY BE HOPED FOR? 



"In Framingham it is too early, of course, to announce final conclusions. 

 It may be said, however, that the Demonstration is now finding fewer cases, 

 and in particular it is finding fewer advanced cases which would indicate a 

 beginning reduction in tuberculosis morbidity. 



"As to mortality, the death-rate has declined during the Demonstration 

 from a pre-Demonstration rate of 121 per 100,000 to a current rate of 35 or 40 

 per 100,000 (corrected for residence and certification errors) a reduction of 

 over two-thirds in 5 years. 



" In the city of 100,000, with 100 deaths a year, this would mean a saving of 

 65 or 70 lives a year, which represents, when measured in money terms alone, 

 thousands and thousands of dollars. The same methods, if successfully applied 

 throughout our country, will mean a saving of over 80,000 lives a year, many 

 more than were lost by this country in the great war. 



"That is the Framingham story in a nutshell. Of course, it is not yet 

 complete, and the future may alter these tentative conclusions. However, 

 if they are suggestive to your community, if you think a similar procedure can 

 be applied with advantage and want more detail as to method, write the 

 Community Health Station, Framingham, Mass." 



It is significant to note in closing this chapter that the idea and 

 methods of the Framingham Demonstration have stimulated the 

 National Child Health Council to establish a similar demonstra- 

 tion on child welfare with a fund of $200,000 granted by the 

 American Red Cross. This most conspicuous illustration is one 

 of a great many instances where agencies and communities, 

 throughout the United States and the world, are being benefited 

 by the application of the methods tested and verified by the 

 Framingham Demonstration. 



