The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

14 The Health Bulletin November, 1951sary. It is this state of affairs and onlythis that shoiild put limitation on theirwork. In view of concerted attempts todraw all voluntary agencies into oneunited fund drive for the support oftheir program, regardless of the natureof that program, those persons (andthey are many) who want to see tuberculosiscontrol continue on its forwardmarch should "look before they leap."Look at the purpose for which the SealSale is conducted, not alone to raisefunds but to help educate the masses.Look at the need—3,368 new cases inNorth Carolina in 1950 with all thatdiscovery of cases entails education,case-finding, treatment and rehabilitation.Look at the associations' recordof progress, education, demonstration,research. See how the funds are spentaccording to the needs in the local communities—andstrengthen their faith inthe agencies that are attempting to holdthe gains that have been made in TBcontrol and carry forward to completionthe unfinished task. In the face ofdiminishing returns, which the late Dr.Milton Roseneau warned against as weapproach effective tuberculosis control,we must speed up and increase oiir efforts.The severity of tuberculosis as acontagious, crippling social destructiveagent does not warrant our turningaside to accept the fads or satisfy thewhims of those who see a little lessinterference from those who promotethe cause as a justification for settingthe controls on who should give, when,who should receiveand how and alsowhat quota.The very nature of tuberculosis demandsthat the people know. To fightthe disease with knowledge is just asimportant now as it was when thedecision to do so was made back in1904 and in 1906 when the National andState Associations were organzied respectively.The Christmas Seal Sale isan additional means of giving widespreadinformation. Can we afford tomiss any opportunity to reach the peoplewith information about tuberculosisand the part that they must play asindividuals and as commimities in itseradication?Keeping faith goes beyond the purchasingof Christmas Seals. It meansacquainting oneself with the tuberculosisproblem as it exists today. It meansknowing the facilities that are neededfor control, the use that's made of themand also the unmet needs. It meansfinding the place in which you canmake your greatest contribution—it maybe in case-finding, education, treatment,research, or rehabilitation. It may bein helping to keep your association free.Whatever the task, if we break faith,we lose "balance" and we, the people,suffer.