326 A HISTORY OF NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION 



and physician-in-chief. He occupied the position until 1914, and 

 from its inception took the keenest interest in this institution. 

 To-day it is one of the largest sanatoria of its kind, having three 

 units (males, females, children) with 600 beds. To Dr. Biggs' 

 initiative is due the employment of that invaluable adjuvant in 

 the modern treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis known as work 

 therapy, which is successfully employed at the Otisville Sana- 

 torium. Dr. Biggs has also the distinction of having been presi- 

 dent of the first tuberculosis preventorium for children, which was 

 founded some years ago in Farmingdale, N. J., largely through 

 the munificence of Mr. Nathan Straus. 



The tuberculosis work, inaugurated by Dr. Biggs and being 

 carried on by the Health Department of the city of New York, 

 has served as a model to many cities in this and other countries. 

 It may be summarized as follows: 



(1) Notification and registration of all cases of tuberculosis. 



(2) Free bacteriological examination of sputum, to aid notification and to 

 facilitate the early and definite diagnosis. 



(3) Educational measures of various kinds circulars, lectures, exhibits, 

 newspaper articles. 



(4) Visitation of consumptives in their homes. Continuous supervision of 

 cases in tenement houses by corps of trained nurses. 



(5) Free disinfection by the Department of Health, and issuance of orders 

 for the renovation of rooms vacated by consumptives. 



(6) Referring needy cases to the proper charitable organizations. 



(7) Three classes of institutions are provided: 



(a) Free clinics (dispensaries) for ambulant cases unable to go to 



sanatoria. 



(&) Free sanatoria for incipient and early cases. 

 (c) Free hospitals for advanced cases. 



(8) Forcing certain classes of patients into a hospital and retaining them 

 there. 



(9) Enforcing regulations concerning spitting in public places. 



(10) Research studies concerning the mode of infection, the role of bovine 

 tuberculosis, characteristics of the tubercle bacillus, etc. 



What was the result of all these activities inaugurated under 

 the leadership of Dr. Biggs? In 1887 he was one of the consulting 

 pathologists of the Department of Health of the city of New 

 York. He had felt for several years the primary importance and 

 necessity for administrative action in relation to tuberculosis, and 



