The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-09
THE TOWN OF AIKEN.
ONE OF THE BEST WINTER RESORTS
IN THE SOUTH.

| A New sanitarium Has Becn Erected and
| Opened for the Reception OF Pate nts.
| Aiken as a Pleasure Resort.
The new Sanitarium at Aiken, tc
which I alluded yesterday, will be for
mally opened on or about the first ol
December. The plan of this institution
for, being endowed, such it really is
was suggested few years ago to
Miss Louisa Loring, of Boston, by the
well-known Trudeau resort in the Ad.
| irondack mountains.
Fired with the determination 10 Sc
cure for invalids of scanty means the
benefits of winter sojourn at Aiken,
Miss Loring at once took the necessary
steps to give her laudable project form
and substance. She herself donated
the ground for the contemplated Sani
tarium, and with untiring energy sci
about the task of collecting money fol
the erection of the building. Her sue
cess was emphatic, as may be judged
from the simple statement that the
plant, fully paid for, has cost $40, 900,
and in addition fund Of SIS, 900 has
been subscribed for the maintenance
of the enterprise.
The building stands On lot, 2G4
feet by 75O, in one of the most advan,
tageous locations in the town. To the
north of it is fine pine grove, which
affords fragrant shelter from any
occasional bleak winds.
Entering the Sanitarium from its
northern elevation the visitor crosses
sort of ante-room or hall, and steps
into one OF the most charming recep'
ton rooms imaginable, finished in
natural wood, and looking out through
great bay window upon broad We:
renda that runs the entire length OF
the Southern side. This room is res
plendent with cheering sunshine for
al least three-fourths OF the day. and
would dispel the "blues" in any mind
save that of the confirmed hypochon'
driac.
To the right, and connected with it
by sliding doors, is a dining room,
fully as large as the reception room,
and quite as bright and CHEEKY. Pass.
ing out into the hall again, the wide
open door to the Doctors office greets
the view to the right. and just south
Of this apartment is the Matron's room,
in communication with every part OF
the building by electric calls.
To the left, as one leaves the recep'
ton room, is staircase leading up to
long hall, from which open num-
Der of bed chambers, each airy and at
tractive, and neatly furnished. The
entire building is piped for hot and
cold water. is lighted by electricity,
and is heated by an improved furnace
system.
The affairs OF the Sanitarium are in
the hands of a board of trustees, OF
which Mr.. 81. M. Dibble, president OF
the Bank of Aiken, is one of the most
active members; and the medical di'
rection is in the charge of DR.. @. f.
McGahan, the resident physician OF
the Highland Park Hotel, which is
but few rods distant.
The Sanitarium is intended for men
solely, and only those in the first
stages of consumption will be admit.
ted-on recommendation Of some rep
utable practitioner who has made a
thorough diagnosis of the patients
physical condition. The aim of the
institution is to restore lost health, If
possible lit will not assume the respon-
sibility of caring for those who are In
the incurable stages of pulmonary dis
eases.
For obvious reasons it was deemed
inadvisable to make this noble enter
prise a charity pure and simple, and
so a sum of FIVE dollars week will be
required of patients for board and
lodging. This merely nominal charge
will stand for not only the best diet
that can be procured, but will cover
every expense incidental to medical
attendance and the services Of trained
nurses. -
DR.. McGahan, though a compare.
lively young man, has made a speci.
atty of throat and lung troubles, aud
is, therefore, admirably equipped for
the trust that has been reposed in him.
He is a Northerner. I believe, and I
am under the impression, though I
cam ot at this moment trace its source
that he himself was cured of throat
affection by the bene6cent climate of
Aiken. At any rate he spends every
winter there, and passes the summer
at Bethlem, White Mountains.
DR.. McGahan has ably assisted Miss
Loring for four years past in her
work on the Sanitarium project. His
earnestness in behalf of this cause was
so great that he succeeded in enlisting
the sympathies of Mrs. Richard Baker
of Boston, one of his wealthy patients,
whose son died at Aiken, last year.
This lady. in memory of her lost child,
gave the Doctor carte blanche to erect
cottage in connection with the Sani-
tarium, and this beautiful building
will also soon be opened for the re.
ception of patients. l am sorry to add
that the munifcent donor has but re-
Gently died herself, and the cottage
will therefore be memorial in double
sense.
1t is part OF the plan of the SAM
tarilm promoters to construct, when
means afford, group of cottages SIM
liar to that which bears the Baker
name, and to allot four patients only
to each cottage. Experience has de-
termined, l believe, that it is more
conducive to the physical welfare of
invalids to segregate them wherever
possible, and thus prevent the inevita,
Bile comparison of ailments that, react
ing on the imagination, SO often seri'
ously initiates against their restora'