Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-16
Sanator1um for Tuberculosis.


The people Of verncnt are now face to
face with proposition fer the erection of
sanatorium for the care of tubercnlar pa
TENTS The Vermont Medical Monthly has
suggested project of this character and
has adduced various reasons why in its
estimation an institution of this kind
should be established. The facts includ-
ed in its interesting article are of a start
ling character. 1t trsnspires that IL per
cent of all deaths in Vermont arc due to
tuberculosis, the fatal cases of this dis
ease in this State during the years 1895 and
1899 having aggregated 1910. an average of
over so annually. Although It is a diff
cult matter to estimate the value of a life
the publication in question says that plac-
ing the figures a t the conservative amount
of 5000 the state loses $4,000 annually
But in reality this loss cannot be stated
in dollars and cents.
Experiments in other States are said 4,
have demon strated that 80 per cent of all
cases Of tuberculosis can be cured in Il
pioier State sanatorium provided treat
r,cnt can be naugurated in the early
stages of the disease. The amount of an
guish and sorrow which could be averted.
il these figures ere correct is beyond cal
oulaticn. On the ether hand the article
emphasizes the point that every consump-
tive is a menace to the public health, the
average number Of people suffering from
consumption in this State constantly be-
ing estimated at about 1000
Whether Vermont has reached q point
where it is ready to establish a sanator
ium for tuhei cular patients is question.
but the subject should receive the con-
sderation that its importance deserves.
The movement for the establishing of
such institute pms has made progress in
various other States, ard we can well az.
ford to watch the result thereof. In
Rhode Island for example, legislative
committee was appointed at the last
January session to consider and report on
the feasibility ard need of establishing in
that commonwealth a hospital for tho
care of recipient cases of pulmonary
tuberculosis and after visiting numerous
sanatoria in our couity as well as
abroad, they became convinced of tho
great practical value of such institutions
both in curative results and as an cdu-
catonal influence, since discharged pa
ticnts teaching their community the cor
rect manner Of life for tuberculous pal
ticnts, especially with reference TO the
Srutum. AS a result of this investigation
a bill was introduced at the November
session providing fer the appointment of a
commission, for the appropriation of
SldO oU fer the purchase of land and he
erection of the necessary buildings. con.
lac cticut has also decided to ESTABLISH in
the city of Hartford q huspita. for con-
sumptivos
The most detailed results coming undor
OR observation, however, are those in
connection with the sanatori'ln recently
established by the State Ct Massachus, It's
in the town of Rutland in Worcester
county That institution has accommoda
tions for 165 patients and during the year
ended September 90 1901, 399 PATIENTS were
recciN ed and 400 discharged 1t is claimed
that no less than Ct per cent of all the
cases in the inciriont stage were cured or
arrested. The average age of those adj
mitted was twentv-e;ght years. The fact
that no less than 100 persons applied for
admission during the ono year in question
shows how great is the domald for such
an institution in the Bay State.
Vermont could not expect to start in on
a scale like that adopted in the more
wealthy ard populoUs States OF New Eng
land, but if upon investigation the project
was found worthy Of action, here wouli
be no good reason why small institution
capable Of being enlarged should not be os-
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