154 A HISTORY OF NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION 



of the history and the artistic merits of numerous designs the 

 committee reported in favor of a double-barred cross with equal 

 cross arms, the upper standard being shorter, and the lower 

 standard longer than the cross arms, and the ends of both arms 

 and standards to be pointed instead of square. The committee 

 was influenced in its decision by the following reasons. 



1. Because the design selected is farthest removed from any 

 design having a religious significance. 



2. Because it is farthest removed from the well-known emblem 

 used by the American National Red Cross. 



3. Because its wide-spread use in this country by many anti- 

 tuberculosis associations over a long period of years has associated 

 it in the minds of the public with the tuberculosis movement. 



In the first report the committee did not recommend any 

 definite proportions, but it was given power to work these out 

 and later to submit the details and specifications to all anti- 

 tuberculosis agencies. The committee's final choice of design 

 is shown in the accompanying illustration. The width of the 

 standards and arms (they are all of the same width) is taken as the 

 standard unit. It will be noted, from figure I, that the length of 

 the lower standard below the cross arms is 7 units; the arms are 

 3 units on either side; the point above the arms is 2^2 units; 

 and the distance between the arms is i^ units. As the width 

 of the cross remains the constant, standard unit, these measure- 

 ments hold good for crosses of any size. 



With the separation of the National Tuberculosis Association 

 from the American Red Cross in relation to the Christmas seal 

 sale, it became increasingly necessary for the tuberculosis move- 

 ment to popularize the double-barred cross. It also became 

 necessary to conserve the emblem so that it would not be used by 

 unscrupulous vendors of patent medicines and organizations that 

 were not approved by the National Tuberculosis Association. 

 Accordingly in February, 1920, the emblem was protected by 

 registry in the United States Patent Office with the number 

 137345- 



The National Tuberculosis Association has made liberal ar- 

 rangements whereby permits for the use of the emblem may be 

 secured from its representative directors in the states. Such 

 permit must specify the particular kinds of printed matter on 

 which the cross is to be used, and must give samples and must 

 pass muster with the representative director who files a copy of 

 the permit with the state association and with the National Tu- 

 berculosis Association. In this way any reputable tuberculosis 

 agency, association, dispensary, sanatorium or other agency can 

 use the double-barred cross. 



