144 A HISTORY OF NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION 



rapidity and completeness with which this can be accomplished depend upon 

 the promptness with which the new doctrine about tuberculosis can be in- 

 culcated into the minds of the people and engrafted upon our customs, habits, 

 and laws. The presence in our midst of representatives of world- wide workers 

 in this magnificent cause gives an unusual opportunity for accelerating the 

 educational part of the process. 



The modern crusade against tuberculosis brings hope and bright prospects 

 of recovery to hundreds of thousands of victims of the disease, who under old 

 teachings were abandoned to despair. The work of the Congress will bring 

 the results of the latest studies and investigations before the profession at large 

 and place in the hands of our physicians all the newest and most approved 

 methods of treating the disease -a knowledge which will add many years of 

 valuable life to our people and will thereby increase our public wealth and 

 happiness. 



The International Congress on Tuberculosis is in the interest of universal 

 peace. By joining in such warfare against a common foe the peoples of the 

 world are brought closer together and made to better realize the brotherhood 

 of man; for a united interest against a common foe fosters universal friendship. 

 Our country, which is honored this year as the host of other nations in this 

 great gathering of leaders and experts, and as the custodian of the magnificent 

 exhibit which will be set up by the entire world, should manifest its apprecia- 

 tion by giving the Congress a setting worthy of the cause, of our guests, and of 

 ourselves. We should endeavor to make it the greatest and most fruitful 

 Congress which has yet been held, and I assure you of my interest and services 

 to that end. 



With expressions of appreciation for the compliment conferred in extending 

 the invitation to become president of the Congress. 

 Very respectfully, 



(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 



The dates of the Congress were definitely fixed for September 

 28 to October 12, 1908. For some time there was doubt as to the 

 actual housing arrangements for the meeting, but after consider- 

 able negotiation arrangements were made through a special appro- 

 priation of the Congress of the United States of $40,000 for the 

 use of the National Museum Building, at that time just nearing 

 completion. All of the sessions and the exhibit of the Congress 

 were held in this building. 



For about a year and a half prior to the Congress itself, under 

 the leadership of Dr. Fulton and his staff, an extensive organiza- 

 tion and educational campaign was carried out. In every state 

 of the Union special committees were formed, for the most part 

 under the patronage of the health departments and the governors 



