22 
J. M. EMMERT. 
are beyond our conception unless studied in the light of modern 
scientific statistics. Take as an illustration tuberculosis or the 
great u White Plague,” as it is sometimes called. One out of 
every seven deaths throughout the world is caused by tuber¬ 
culosis. Iowa contributes nine deaths every day, three thousand 
every year; the United States contributes one hundred and fifty 
thousand, and the world five millions per year. 
Contemplate these figures for a moment, then ask yourself 
why the people are not aroused to the dangers that surround 
them and demand that our lawmakers, both State and national, 
shall enact laws to stamp out this disease, or at least prevent its 
fearful ravages. If a case of small-pox is reported in this or ad¬ 
joining States, the State Board of Health at once makes prepara¬ 
tions to prevent its spread. Newspapers take up the cry of 
danger and the people become excited and demand that the local 
boards of health be doubly vigilant. 
Last winter the House of Representatives of this State sent 
Dr. Kennedy to the northern part of this State to investigate a 
case of leprosy, and see what was necessary to protect the State 
from its ravages. What a farce ! This is literally straining at 
a gnat and swallowing a camel. More people die of tuberculosis 
* 
in one month than have died of small-pox in the last ten years. 
The almost complete stamping out of small-pox is a beautiful 
example and a scientific demonstration of what can be done by 
preventive medicine ; and to-day if the laws throughout the 
united world compelling the vaccination of every child at a 
certain age were enforced, small-pox would be in ten years a 
/ 
lost disease. 
Now, in my judgment tuberculosis is just as easily stamped 
out as small-pox. It may take generations to do it, but with 
proper legislation, and its complete enforcement throughout the 
world—I mean a concerted action by all the powers of the world 
—will reduce the mortality due to the disease to a minimum, if 
not entirely wipe it out. But to do this we must start out right, 
we must understand thoroughly the etiology of the disease, its 
natural history, how its spreads, etc. 
