Consumption
Fall River formed its own chapter of the “Anti-Tuberculosis Society,” in November of 1908. One of their methods of fundraising was to sell “Christmas seals” – according to the society, “Christmas seals fight TB and work for health.”
By 1950, this rampant and unbiased killer was infecting thousands of people weekly. Sadly, by that time, the death rate, as was stated in a memo from the Anti-Tuberculosis Society, was still killing “1000 persons each week.” However, this astonishing number was originally 85% higher prior to the sale of seals in 1906. The sale of Christmas seals was undoubtedly working to raise funds, but the disease was working harder still.
In 1956, “Fall River had the second highest tuberculosis death rate in Massachusetts.” The society was eager to sell seals in an effort to “make Fall River safe from Tuberculosis.”
Tuberculosis, or as some called it, “consumption,” was an epidemic in the city for over fifty years. While this terrible illness took thousands of lives, it also brought some interesting changes, such as slightly higher hemlines for women, anti-tuberculosis societies, anti-spitting campaigns, and more.
Notice the use of children in the article for the Christmas seals – does that not tug at the heart strings?
