THE STATE TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATIONS 81 



Donaghey Building, Little Rock, Arkansas, and the executive 

 secretary is Miss Erie Chambers. 



CALIFORNIA TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION 



Among the earliest efforts at organization of tuberculosis work 

 in California were the Southern California Anti-Tuberculosis 

 League, formed in 1903, with Dr. F. M. Pottenger as president, 

 and the Tuberculosis Committee of the State Medical Society, 

 formed in the same year. These organizations operated largely 

 in southern California and San Francisco. Their principal work 

 was the distribution of a limited amount of literature. 



The California Association for the Study and Prevention of 

 Tuberculosis, of which Dr. George H. Kress was the secretary 

 for several years, was formed in 1907 largely out of the interest 

 stimulated by the International Congress Committee. 



This latter organization carried on a state-wide propaganda 

 and stimulated considerable interest by the distribution of litera- 

 ture, holding of meetings, and the work that was accomplished 

 in Los Angeles through its clinic. 



It was in 1914, however, that the most progressive step in 

 state tuberculosis work was taken, when the Association was re- 

 organized and a full-time executive secretary was employed. 

 The increase in the Christmas seal sale immediately justified the 

 employment of the state executive, Mrs. E. L. M. Tate-Thomp- 

 son, in 1915. As a result largely of Mrs. Thompson's persever- 

 ance and energy, the State Legislature enacted a law providing 

 for a State Bureau of Tuberculosis in the Department of Health 

 and for a state subsidy for counties which built tuberculosis 

 hospitals along lines approved by the State Bureau. 



Up to this time it had been almost impossible to secure local 

 provision for tuberculosis cases, primarily because of the fear of 

 communities that the establishment of county hospitals would 

 bring in an influx of indigent migratory consumptives. The 

 experience of the last six years demonstrates clearly that such 

 fears were largely groundless. 



Mrs. Thompson was appointed as the head of the State Bureau 

 of Tuberculosis, and retained her position also as head of the 

 State Tuberculosis Association, in which dual capacity she has 

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