THE STATE TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATIONS 77 



ALABAMA TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION 



The active campaign against tuberculosis in Alabama is about 

 seven years old. 



As early as 1906 a standing committee on tuberculosis of the 

 Medical Association of the State of Alabama, with Dr. Glenn 

 Andrews as chairman, had been formed, and through the in- 

 fluence of this committee legislation was secured in 1907 declar- 

 ing tuberculosis to be an infectious disease, and making it report- 

 able. Up until 1914, however, comparatively little had been 

 done, chiefly for the reason that funds were not available for a 

 state- wide campaign. 



A local association had been formed in Montgomery in 1908, 

 and in Birmingham in 1910. The work of these organizations, 

 however, was largely local and centered chiefly about the super- 

 vision of sanatorium and hospital care for a limited number of 

 tuberculous patients. 



With the inauguration of a state-wide Christmas seal sale in 

 1914, the real campaign against tuberculosis in Alabama began. 

 Educational work was conducted on a state-wide basis, and local 

 communities were stimulated to organization. 



At the close of 1921 there were 4 sanatoria in the state, with a 

 bed capacity of 115, 5 dispensaries, and 17 local associations. 

 There are 15 county public health nurses and a state supervising 

 nurse, with 2 other state nurses on part time. 



The Modern Health Crusade has been introduced widely 

 throughout the state. The state association has an executive 

 secretary and a Crusader executive, and an additional staff. 



In 1915 a State Tuberculosis Commission was created for the 

 purpose of promoting county and district hospitals. The Com- 

 mission has cooperated with the State Tuberculosis Association 

 and has been instrumental in stimulating a wide interest in the 

 institutional care of the tuberculous. The unfavorable financial 

 conditions of recent years have hindered the development of 

 work along this line. 



The problem of tuberculosis control in Alabama is seriously 

 complicated by the large Negro population. The State Tuber- 

 culosis Association has stimulated such an interest among the 



