burgh was without a single weapon with which to fight this 
scourge; there was not even one bed available for caring for 
the sick consumptive. The death-rate was appalling. 
Most great movements owe their existence to the enthusi- 
astic sponsorship of one individual. The Tuberculosis 
League of Pittsburgh owes its existence to one man’s personal 
realization of the sorrow tuberculosis can bring to a single 
*amily; this man, Otis H. Childs, decided that such a devas- 
tating disease should no longer be allowed full sway over the 
helpless lives of his fellow Pittshurghers. Early in 1906 he se- 
cured the co-operation of other far-sighted and humanitarian 
citizens such as R. B. Mellon, Edward A. Woods, H. K. Por- 
ter, J. M. Jenkinson, Robert L. Martin, and John Bindley, 
and the institution was organized and chartered under the 
name of the Pittsburgh Sanatorium. The original incorpora- 
tion was to found and maintain an institution for the study, 
treatment and prevention of tuberculosis in man. Funds 
were to be secured by voluntary subscription. The name 
was subsequently changed to the Tuberculosis League of 
Pittsburgh, which opened its doors February 1, 1907, with 
five departments, including the hospital, dispensary, labora- 
tory, educational and administrative divisions, all housed in 
theformer residence of William McConway on Bedford avenue 
at the top of Herron hill. Mr. McConway had generously 
offered the use of this large frame dwelling rent free for four 
years, if at the end of that period the League would purchase 
it. The hospital commenced with twenty beds, and increased 
its capacity to eighty the following year, with the erection of 
five “shacks.” These were donated by Wallace H. Rowe, 
Mrs. Alexander Laughlin, Jr., the Allegheny General Hospi- 
tal, Mercy Hospital and West Penn Hospital. Two of these 
shacks are still in use. The hospital now has 110 beds. 
During the first year, 800 patients were examined by the 
dispensary department. Many of these were visited in their 
own homes by league nurses, who taught the sick consump- 
tives how to care for themselves and to keep from infecting 
their families. Necessary supplies, such as sputum cups, 
gauze, and often milk and eggs were provided these patients. 
In the first annual report of the league, mention is made of 
184 talks given by the league to the school children of the city.