localities
that workers predisposed to tuberculosis may be sure of a livelihood in
an occupation suited to their vitality. Destruction of germs in the
air, in carpets, on walls, on streets, is quite as important as
destruction of germs in lungs. Why should not tenants and workers
require health certificates stating that neither house nor working
place is infected with tubercle bacilli? Some cities now compel the
disinfection of premises occupied by tuberculous persons _after_ their
removal. Landlords, employers, tenants, and employees can easily be
taught to see the advantage of disinfecting premises occupied by
tuberculous cases _before_ detection.

[Illustration: FIGHTING FEATHER DUSTERS IS ONE OBJECT OF SEA-AIR
HOSPITALS FOR BONE TUBERCULOSIS]

Dry cleaning, feather dusters, dust-laden air, will disappear from
schoolrooms within twenty-four hours after school-teachers declare that
they shall disappear. We have no right to expect street cleaners,
tenement and shop janitors, or overworked mothers to be more careful
than school-teachers. Last year I said to a janitress, "Don't you
realize that you may get consumption if you use that feather duster?"
Her reply caused us to realize our carelessness: "I don't want any more
than I've got now." Shall we some day have compulsory examination and
instruction of all cleaners, starting with school cleaners?

[Illustration: FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS IN OPEN TENTS]

Taxing is swift to follow teaching in matters of health. Teachers can
easily compute what their community loses from tuberculosis. The totals
will for some time prove a convincing argument for cleanliness of air,
of body, and of building wherever the community is responsible for air,
building, and body. The annual cost of tuberculosis to New York City is
estimated at $23,000,000 and to the United States at $330,000,000. The
cost of exterminating it will be but a drop in the bucket if
school-teachers do their part this next generation with the twenty
million children whose day environment they control for three fourths
of the year, and whose habits they can determine.

The first meeting in America of the International Congress on
Tuberculosis was held at Washington, D.C., September 21 to October 12,
1908. For many years the proceedings of this congress will undoubtedly
be the chief reference book on the conquest of tuberculosis.[14]

How many aspects there are to this problem, and how many kinds of
people