ABSTRACT
The Japanese first described pulmonary tuberculosis in 984. In the East, Chinese texts described symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis as early as the western Jin period. Modern attempts to bring tuberculosis under control began with Robert Koch's 1882 proof of the bacterial nature of the disease. The society sought to encourage the expansion of local tuberculosis prevention committees throughout the state. Many national anti-tuberculosis associations were organized between 1890 and 1910. In 1910, the National Tuberculosis Association and the Red Cross promoted the annual sale of Christmas seals, and in 1919, the national association assumed full sponsorship. The national association also provided seminars for medical professionals and public health nurses on the nature and treatment of tuberculosis, surveyed sanatoriums and tuberculosis hospitals, promoted a tuberculosis crusade for children, provided motion pictures on tuberculosis, and published three journals. The local tuberculosis associations assured that necessary programs were maintained even when municipal health organizations were ineffective.
