14 INTRODUCTION 



:h. death is due to t uherculosis in one form or othrr. 

 The mortality from tuKen-ulnsis in the United States is \.ui 

 ously estimated at from 150,000 to 200,000 annually. Th, 

 figure is probably the more correct one. Some st.tti 

 is claim that throughout the <i\ili/l world at least 

 OIK- individual dies every second of t uberculosis, and in the 



Mates it is estimated that we lose one <iti 

 four minutes from this disease. The im-ateM number of deaths 

 are due to the pulmonary form of tuberculosis, commonly 

 known as consumption. Depressing as these figures seem, 



-till indicate progress, for formerly they were still hi 

 and we have now absolute evidence that the mortality iK.ni 

 tuberculosis has been considerably decreases 1 in nearly all 

 the cities and towns of Europe and the I 'nited States, where 

 better preventive measures and more rational methods of 

 treatment have been in vogue for a number of years. In OIK 

 of the succeeding chapters we shall speak more in detail of 

 public prophylaxis and special institutions for the treatment 

 of consumptives, which doubtlessly have been the most impor- 

 tant factors in producing this reduction in the mortality from 

 tuberculosis. 



The researches of recent years have demonstrated that 

 consumption and also many other forms of tuberculosis may 

 not only be prevented, but can in many cases be arrested and 

 lastingly cured. The governments and the medical profession 

 are aware of this, and have diligently, energetically, and 

 most unselfishly worked in the direction of solving this impor- 

 tant problem, which means so much to the welfare of the penpl. . 

 In one of the subsequent chapters we will give a short r 

 of the antituberculosls activities throughout the world, 

 particularly in the United States. From it it will ho seen that 

 all civilized governments as well as the medical profession are 

 in earnest to combat tuberculosis in every possible way. 



But, as the motto of this essay expresses it, the intell, 

 co-operation of the people in this work is indispensable. To 

 enable all men, women, and even the children at .school to 

 participate intelligently in this combat against a common foe 

 is the purpose of this essay. 



