Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-11-14
Need of state Sanatorium for Tuber-
culoss Patients.

CulOSiS FdIlcnISs
1t may not generally be known that
nearly II per cent. of all deaths from
disease in Vermont are due to tuber-
culoss. Such is a fact, however, and
in 1898 and in 1899, out of 1898 deaths
from contagious disease tuberculosis
was responsible for 10i9l Nearly 500
lives are boted out each year. a num-
Der greater than the average popula-
ton of half the towns in Vermont
Can any one imagine this body of
men, women and children 500 strong,
passing in one great procession to the
grave each year? If they can, no fur
Their argument Is necessary to- show how
great a problem tuberculosis presents
to our community.
1t is impossible to accurately estimate
the value of life, but hardly any one
will deny that the Average life is worth
1900 At this figure Vermont loses
annually $150,000 to say nothing of the
loss that the state bears during the
period leading up to a tubercular failure
and inability to work.
Experiments in Massachusetts, New
York and other states as well as i'm
foreign countries. demonstrate indis-
putably that 30 per cent. and over of
all cases of tuberculosis can be cured
in proper state sanitoria. If treatment
can be inaugurated in the first stages.
| There is no reason why equally good
mont. and If one-half of Vermont's tub
CIRCULAR patients could be saved each
! year. even at an expense of $4,000, the
! state would still be the gamer by $780,
COO And we cannot estimate what
losses would be saved by giving back to
many homes the principal wage Garner
/ thus decreasing the number of families
that otherwise would be thrown on to
the bounty of the state or private
/ charity.
This only considers the question from
an enonomic standpoint but IT has many
! other phases. For instance, how much
1 anguish and sorrow would be saved IL
one-half of those who annually die from
consumption could be given back to their
loved ones? How much less actual pri-
/ walton and misery would be experienced
by those who actually suffer the
disease?
Still another phase is that which has
to do with the greatest good to the
greatest number Every consumptive
! Is a menace to countless other human
beings, and any measure which de-
! creases the number of consumptives. de-
creases the danger in the same proper
ton. Probably not over one-haIf of the
actual number of consumptive patients
die each year, and IT is a conservative
estimate to say that there are a least
1000 people suffering with tuberculosis in
Vermont all of the time. For the pro-
lection of our children our dear ones and
ourselves, ought not number of those
who are afflicted with this terrible
disease to be limited to the lowest pos
sible point? Ought not every procedure
that offers a particle of aid in creasing
the public danger be utilized, if for no
other reason than our own protection?
Even in it's infancy. as Ii is the san
atorum movement is saving and cur
ing 80 per cent. or one-half of all cases
of tuberculosis when treatment can be
started early. Therefore. with all that
this means to the state. to the public
to the patient. and last. to each healthy
individual. no argument is needed to
Justify the establishment of state san
atoria. wherever tuberculosis exists.
Vermont has won an enviable reputa-
ton for the stand taken in all sanitary
matters. and let us not be behind the
leaders in the care of our tuberculai
people
giene, second to none in this world: we
have a state board of health the equa
of any. and we have the first efficient
school for health officers in America
Let us not fall behind in the warfar,
against tuberculosis. and for the safety
and happiness of our people neglect M
steps in decreasing the number of thos'
who are diseased and in protecting thos,
who are not.
| This is a real problem and must b,
squarely met in Its sociologic and econ
omic aspects. We cannot dodge it 1
We try. and no laisseZ-faire policy will
do. The march of civilization and thu
, interests of humanity will make nee
cessary the choice of three solutions
sooner or later. For public safety ant
the future of our race we must elimin
ate the consumptive; either 1st. by iso
lation as we would a leper; End. b!
the same method we would rid ourseve
OF a diseased and dangerous animal; o
3rd we must care for him and rob hin
: of all danger by curing his disease
n Thank God. the humanitariansm of on
s age will recognize but one solution o
r this problem. and all over our and tel
t years from now State sanatoria will b
e as common as state asylumns for the in
o sane. Let not Vermont be the last to d
her share.-TFrom Editorial Vernon
i Medical Monthly, Dec, %, 1901.