The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-08
STATE SHOULD AID.
Sauitarium Needed in Maine for
Consumptives.
DR.. A. g. Young's Valuable Paper I'm
Board Of Health Report.

(
port OF the state Board Of Health which
has recently been issued. The paper is as
follows:
Not long ago the idea which ruled
medical thought, as well as that OF the
public generally, was that tuberculosis Is
largely due to heredity. and that the per-
centage OF durable cases is comparatively
small. There were, furthermore, no
clearly defined rules for Its prevention.
Since that time 1t has been firmly estab-
lished that heredity plays but small
part In the causation OF tuberculosis; that
IL is an infectious. or communicable dis
ease OF parasitic origin; that inteiiigently
applied prophlyactio measures are re-
markabiy successful In limiting Its preya-
ience; and that the lives OF large per-
oentage OF persons affected with pull
monary consumption might be saved
here in our own State, II the modern hy-
gienic treatment for that disease was APP
pile to tt EN-, and II the facilities for It's
application were rendered available.
This adv ance In what we know about
the disease, tuberculosis, presents some
questions relating to the duty OF the
State, of municipalities, and Of society
generally, in an entirely new light. SO
long as 1t was believed that q large
death.rate from consumption Is an I'M
ayoidable concomitant of our modern
civilization, there was no clear presenta-
ton OF dirty. but since 1t Is shown that
thousands OF lives are wasted In THIS
State which might be saved, the enormity
of the derelicsion OF duty Is easily appar-
emit II no effort Is made to save these
lives.
1t is only truthful statement OF fact
to say that thousands Of persons are dy-
ing inch by inch, through many months
Of suffering. just because they are unable
to pay the cost OF their cure. So far as
may be, this wrong should be righted In
the name OF humanity But In the death
OF these citizens. needed in the Industrial
and social development OF the State we
annually lose hundreds OF thousands OF
dollars, Added to this Is the increase in
the burden OF State and municipal expen-
iiture due to the poverty and pauperism
which often follow in the wake OF this
maiady.
It is not alone the poor who are help
less upon the advent Of consumption. In
many fairly well-to-do homes, when the
mead Of the family Is stricken with dis
ease which, for so many months. makes
Tim an invalid and rapidly consumes his
savings the household often comes TO
teel the bitter bits OF straitened Or
,um stances, whether the patient does or
does NOT make fight for life by climatic
change or in other ways which necessitate
al aYnandtfJ1raR 0nFfnU D1T100
Of iessened earnings,
Aside from the pathetic spectacle Of
50 large q number or persons perisnlng
Tor the want of temporary help which
would save many of them. another seri-
GUS incident of the situation presents 1t
self. In many homes where there ere
cases of consumption, the sick persons
are a source of grave danger to their
he pIess families, and even to the general
public. Each person removed from his
uufavorable home surroundings lessons
the number OF foci OF Infection by one.
and by preventing the communication OF
the isease to others multiple sources OF
Infection are often avoided.
Thus q sanitarium which might save
the lives OF 80 persons ami aliy would
have much farther reaching influence
for good thao this mere saving OF that
numoer OF lives Zach person who has
been an inmate OF modern sanitarium
cured or not, goes "a q sanitary mission
ary, Through the discipline OF the sani-
tarium ne has had instiIled into his mind,
oy preoept and by the example OF the
other pat ents, that he must for his own
recovery breathe fresh air and otherwise
lead an hygienio life, and that he must at
nome, at his work and at all times, avoid
endangering Others and just how to
fulfill his duty 30 himself and others 10
this respect he has been thoroughly
taught. The beneficent moral influence
in the State Of these sanitarium graduates
would be very great. Thus the value Of
the educative influence or q sanitarium
would be inestiInable.
1.-The public health" as Lord Beacons-
field said, Is the foundation on which
reposes the happiness OF the people and
the power of q country The duty OF
the State which Is OF paramount impor-
tance, is the preservation of the lives and
the health CT its citizens. Everything
eIse-industrial and commercial develop
ment education, the refinement OF civil
ization-palls In significance to this.
That every civilized state recognizes it's
obligation to protect the lives OF its citi-
zens, and to sucoor its unfortunate. Is
evident. Its hospitals, Its orphan asyl-
ums, Its provisions for the blind and for
the deaf and dumb, its care OF the feeble
minded and idiotio, its support OF pau
pers, attest this. All are provided for ex
cept the unfortunate oonsumptive-he
alone remains without help. New ext
gencies have been thrust forth by an al.
yancing pathology. Many general hos
pitfalls are now closed against him. In
the hotels at many health resorts he Is
not wanted.
Much of the large expenditure now
made for unfortunates Is for persons for
whose future usefulness as citizens there
is little or no hope, 1t is made, and
rightly made, In the name OF hu-
manity. The great majority OF con-
persons within those age periods when
they are OF the greatest yalus to the
State, their intellect and all special senses
are intact. But It Is their misfortune to
be the Victims of an infection which. in
It's early stage, is durable in the majority
OF cases, but which, untreated, will drag
them down. Many of them could be put
.raII an fha rnad To rennYary In THAR own