Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-02-11
SOLDIERS sANITARIUM.
General laveren Argues for Such AN In
stitution.-Tclls of Hot Springs
Aslvant ,:scs for LoC:.tiOm.


A.lvant ages for Location.
Senator Pettigrew recently received
a letter from VIM. w. .Averell, Assist
ant tInsppector-G General. National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, which
was embodied in the favorable report
just made by the senate committee on
Military Affairs. 1t is so rcplete with
good arguments for the location of the
National Home at this place, and com
ing from such eminent authority, we
reprint the letter entire:
BATH. n. y, january s. 1898.
My DEAR SENATOR: Il hear that there
is movement III congress toward the
establishment of IL sanitarium at Hot
Springs, S. Dakota, for the treatment
of disabled volunteer soldiers afflicted
with rheumatism or other complaints.
AS have been inspecting the South
Dakota Soldiers Home at that place
annually since 1891, have had uncom
monty good opportunities to note the
results of the use of the water by rheu-
matics. have seen there many ameli-
orations and apparent cures of rheu-
matism.
\ considerable percentage of mem
bers have been annually discharged
from the Home, at their own request,
having been cured and having become
able to work at manual labor. At my
first visit in 1891 noticed a man paint
ing dado along the wall ascending the
main stairway. He was working rapid
ly and skillfully and I congratulated
the commandant on having SO good Il
workman, and he remarked that the
man had been brought into the Home
in blanket only few weeks before,
helpless with rheumatism. This SEEM
ed almost incredible, but it invited mo
to an investigation from which, after
two more inspections, came the convic-
ton that had learned enough to JUS
tify the Recommendation of careful,
professional. and official test.
This purpose, and the reasons which
supported it, were subm tilted to Gener-
al Franklin, president of the Board Of
Managers of the National Home for
disabled volunteer soldiers. and he
authorized me to take the action that
you may find described in my report of
1893, page 1874. In this sou will find
that thirty members of the Western
Branch of the National Home were Sc
lected from those who we're most atilict-
ed with rheumatism, which in several
of the cases was complicated with other
diseases, and some were incurable. All
were thoroughly and carefully eNamin-
ed by a surgeon of the Home, and Il
diagnosis of each was recorded before
their departure. On their arrival at
Hot Springs the thirty members were
again carefully examined by another
competent surgeon, who made "a SINH
lar record to the one which had been
made at the Western Branch. The
same examination and record were
made on their departure from Hot
Springs and on their return to the
Western Branch as was made sixty
days before.
These patients remained under
Treatment only sixty days.
That so many complete cures and
great ameliorations of the disease of
rheumatism should be effected in a
period sdbrief is at least remarkable,
aud that when this disease was COM
plicated with other diseases and it
alone was eliminated, it is reasonably
certain that the water is etficacious for
rheumatism.
A description of the locality of Hot
Springs and the analysis of the water
are given in my annual report of 1891,
page 40.
There is complete set of all my re-
ports i'll the library of the Military
Committee of the House. Rheuma-
tism is one of the most prevalent dis.
eases in the Soldiers Homes. There
is larg, percentage of afflicted Nom
bers who are not incurablsS and might
be cured and restored to industry for
y while.
There is no question of the necessity
for such II stnitarium. Ii several hun
dreds who are afflicted with rheum.l-
tism, and not too old to he moved, were
sent from the Homes to an adequate
sanitarium at Hot Springs, they would
at once make room for worthy. needy.
and eligible soldiers who are pressing
for admission. and if the saiiitarium
was full. some of those that were cured
might make their way and leave room
!. to be filled with fresh accessions.
With the hope that this important
project will receive the favorable con
sideration OF generous and patriotic
Congress-, am. respectfully.
8 Your obedient servant,
& WM. W. AvERELL. u. S. A..