The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-02-02
FOR CONSERVATIVES.
STATE HEALTH BOARD FAVORS A
HOSPITAL.
Matter Extensively Treated In Annual
Report-Dtsease Durable in Its Incl
pient stages-Proper Treatment All
That is Necessary

! Hartford, Feb. LIN view of the pro-
! posed legislation providing for the es-
adjustment of hospital for consump-
| yves, the annual report of the state
BOARD OF health, pust issued, is of par
| tlcular interest. 1t says:
| tuberculosis Is not only prevail
| able disease, but in it's incipient stages
| 1t is unquestionably durable But the
peculiar nature of the disease and the
circumstances of many of it's victims
are suchthatthe expense of proper
treatment is prohibitory, even for peo-
pie of considerable property, in the alb
sence of any suitable establishments in
which they can be received and cared
Tor. Hence the majority of consump-
ives have only the discouraging pros
pect of laboring ON while their strength
lasts, in, the same unsanitary environ
ment in which the disease was acquired
There is a goodly number of con-
sumptives now living in this state who
under favorable conditions, could be re-
stored to health. The conditions ne
cessary to so happy result, however,
are not available to them as individu-
ais unless by some public benefactions
provision is made for their care and
treatment collectively. The plea is es-
pecially made for the poor who, be-
cause of their poverty, will of necessi-
ty continue to live in over-crowded hab-
itationS and in an environment most
unfavorable to the recovery of such
patients Unfortunately, the majority
of tuberculosis patients are poor. Eve
ry one of these poor patients is, by rea-
son of his circumstances, unavoidably
and inevitably source Of infection to
others. Those who are associated with
him in the intimacy of family life can
rarely escape the fatal consequences of
such a habitation, and thus they be-
come centers Of future infection to
their companions.
This proposition to provide at pub
lie expense the means of caring and
treating the INDECENT victims of con-
sumption is not a fanciful and novel
conceit of visionary enthusiasts. In
Europe the practice has passed the ex-
perimental stages and has demonstra-
ted it's claim to wise, prudent and eco
citizenship. The car of Rus
STA, the emperor of Austria, the kings
of Saxony and Sweden, the queen Of
and the empress of Germany
have provided in greater or less degree
to this sort of contribution to the well
fare of their people. Germany could
boast ten years ago of over thirty SEN
atoria for the consumptive poor.
Among the advocates of these institu-
tons are found the highest sanitary
known. The longest expe |
,ience Of cohsumptive hospital has |
oeen had in England. One, indeed, |
was established as early as 1871, the |
Royal Sea Bathing Infirmary for Scrof- !,
la.
THE FIRST HOSPITAL.
THE first hospital in the United
states for the treatment Of consump-
ion was started by the private enter
)rise of Drs. A. L. LOOMS and p. l..
Trudeau, with the benevolent aid of a
ew ladies and gentlemen In New York.
t was located in the Adirondacks near II
,aranac lake in 1884 1t is conducted
N the cottage system. Still others
lave been established, stimulated by
or as profitable business
enture But Massachusetts, accus-
omed as she is to lead in such benefi-
ent undertakings, was the first state
n the Union to establish by an act of
he legislature hospital for consump-
ives. as a result of which the state
yas able to announce that on the first