The Portland daily press., 1900-11-24

So many inquiries have bsen made
about the proposed Maine State Sana-
torium Association that, Us matter Of
public interest and In the interest OF the
public welfare, the members Of the state
Board of Health beg You to present this
communication to your readers.
The proof which modern Investigation
has furnished that pulmonary tuberou-
iosis, or consumption, is an infections
disease. stamps It, az the same time, as a
perventabls disease. Coincideptly with
the late studies OF the biology Of the
tubercular parasite, and Of the natural
and artificial agencies which may be en-
ployed in preventing the transmission OF
the parasite and the development Of the
disease in persons who have resolved the
infection, a very eager study OF the ques-
tion Of heretlity as cause OF tuberculosis
has been carried on in all parts Of the
civilized world. The result briefly stated
Is that tuberculosis Is n disease due to
infection and that heredity has but little
to do with Its oausation. Thus instead
OF cause OF despair the brand Of infec-
tkNAtl httu bHS uthnAONhh ". tho AtAAANA
claims for heredity as an geological fac
tor present reason for hopsfulness-hope
for the victim OF an incfpient Infection,
for the affected household. for the COM
munity, for the State.
This is the view OF the matter taken
by the State Board OF Health, and though
perhaps, enthusiasts, we think that the
good results Of the popular educational
campaign against tuberculosis which has
been waged sin this state and In some
other places fully apsolve us from any
imputation OF being Missionaries. But In
the efforts TO lessen the prevalence OF
tuberculosis many unfavorabie influences
hamper the work OF the state Board, OF
local boards, and OF the Intelligent and
thoughtful part OF our people. There are
constantly several thousand homes in the
state In which there are persons with
tuberculosis. Many OF these persons are
a continual souroe OF danger to their rs
sociates at home, at school, and In places
of business. Many OF them are source
of danger because of a lack OF preols9 In
formation how to obviate the danger;
many on account of unfavorable social
conditions. just so many OF them as
might be removed from their homes, just
so many households might cease to tie
sources of infection. But, be 1t under
stood, tine State Board Is not In favor of
the compulsory removal Of any coisump-
tive from his home. Ii on the other hand
an institution could be established which
would offer consumptives better chance
OF cure than now exists and at the same
time practically Danish the danger OF in
lection decided gain fore the public
health and safety would be achieved.
As to sanatoriums for consumptives the
first was built in Germany in 1859 the
second In 1874. The practical results OBJ
tained In these first two institutions were
SO favorable that their influence has been
felt in ell parts Of the world. In Ger
many there are now 40 or 90 sanitoriums
for consumptives. They have been built
by private benevolence, by cities and life
insurance companies are there erecting
sanatnriums because 1t pays them better
to thus cure their policy holders than to
let them die. In all parts OF Europe from
Italy to Russia, Finland, Sweden and
Norway sanatoriums for consumptives
are in operation or are building. For
the furtheranoe OF the idea and the pre-
vsntion or consumpti on, numerous
national and internati onai congresses
have been held, and ne xb spring another
Will be held in London, at which the
least OF the rulers in Europe have given
large sums OF money for the establish
ment OF sanatoriums.
In this country the first sanatorium for
consumptives was built in the Adiron-
dack region in 1884, through the influence
Oh LIZ. ITuueAu anu Win tno nelp Vi
benevolent persons. Others have followed
and various states or societies are now
planning to build more of them.
The results attsAned In kthesa ,institu-
tions, CONSERVATORY stated, have been
about 20 per cent of cures and apparent
cures, or q total OF 70 per cent OF patients
with their disease CURED, arrested, or
markedly improved when they left.
Climate seems 60 have influenced but
little the percentages of cures. but 1t Is
well 20 notetthat at every one or the ssna
toriums visited by me, the testimony of
the attending physician has been very
positive that the patients do decidedly
better la the winter than In the warmer
seasons.
From the preceding may be gathered
the reason why the State Board OF Health
not In Its OH cial CAPACITY, but as seven
citizens of our State with others who
nave felt the great need of help for the
thousands OF oonsumpriyes who are In the
clutches OF a deadly disease but many OF
whom might b saved, have invited their
fellow citizens to meet at the State House
in the latter part of December for the
purpose of organizing what may be called
Maine state Sanatortum Association with
the object of exercising its infiusnoe to
prevent the spread OF tuberculosis and
&c build a sanatorium for the cure of
consumptives near their own homes
AS to the raising OF funds; q small an
nual membership Zee from a large num-
ber OF persons would help some, hut the
main hope OF the association must be a
proper presentation or the case of the con-
sumptive wnofis Fnot well-to-do, SO that
benevolentiy inclined persons of means
may come TO the rescue Of these unfortu-
mates.
Starting in a small way at first, about
all of the American sanatoriums, save the
Massachusetts State Sanatorium, and
many of the European ones have sbeen
built and supported in this way. In
Canada the National Sanitarium Asso-
citation built, soon after its organization,
the Muskoka Cottage Sanatorium, which
Is model institution, and Is doing good
work, two benevolent and spublic-spirited
citizens contributing SO, coo apiece, which
more than sufiiced to build a $40, 900 ad-
m inistration building as q start. Other
donations have quickly followed for the
building OF cottages and for other pur-
poses Can we not do as well in this
StateY We think 1t worth trying.
The present promoters or the movement
have not the least idea OF asking for leg
islative help, Above all things else, the
merceuary spirft must be excluded If a