New-York tribune., 1903-02-15

because Of their ignorance Of the character OF
their disease, continually spread its infection
among Others. who soon find that they. too are
victims
The rresen. agitation TO purge the city Of the
plague of tuberculosis. transport all cases of
the disease TO sanatoriuns. where they may re-
cei,-e proper treatment an outdoor life, fstten-
ing foods and rest has been frequently met
with the respondent refrain We can't get the
nome Sanatorfun1s like those in the Adiron-
dscks and The CatskiIls cost small fortunes.
Land has been offered. hut buildings are expen-
siv=."
over on Wards Island. in sight Of passing
tuss and steamboats,. are three white TENTS
which may prove 10 be the solution of the tuber-
rllls- r,robIer17 Of New-York Here are forty
co7s,lr1ptive patients from the Eastern division
OF the Manhattan State Hospital for the Insane,
md although they little know OF il themselves.
-7ese forty men are being watched by the
health authorities OF half a dozen great cities.
L = consumptive can be cured, or even find i'm
rre1e ernent in the treatment, when insane
physicians argue that It should prove many
times more successful for the sane In snow
storm and thaw, in rain and shine, the campers.
through the perseverance Of their attendants.
cat and sleep in the open air. with only single
sheet Of canvas 10 shield them from the ele-
rnents.
Should one visit this little colony he would i'm
Inediately be pleasantly surprised with the IL
viting characte- OF its interior.
Not such bad place after ALL" he would
sly as he pushed aside the canvas flap that
serves for door. The twenty beds are ar
ranged on each side Of central aisle, and
: bout half Of them contain patients, with their
heads propped on pillows, or talking with the
nurses or some friend who has come TO cheer
en- ur" The others up and walking about
Two immense stoves stand al each end Of the
tent so that the air that circulates freely over
their hot sides is robbed OF its chill and damp
ness A few arrivals, who are sicker than
the rest. hang their heads, both because of
weakness Of body and of mind; but the major
itv look as If they ought to be out of bed and at
work
How arc YOU Denny" asks the attendant
physician. as he passes one bed where a man of
about forty years is apparently sleeping
Denny" opened his eyes, ran his hand through
his gray hair then passed it over his smooth
face which the barber had Just shaved. and
ssid.
VIII doc. I'm better and I'm worse. / am
getting we'll and before I do going to get
worse
You're little mixed, aren't you?' said the
doctor goodnaturedly.
But it's good mixture" was the prompt
reply It's the hest mixture manufactured for
tho circus"
Denny" relapsed into another doze. and the
Cector said:
That man one of the best Glow rs on
the tanbark in his earlier days He was born
and brought UP in the circus ring Misfortune.
drink and other evils have brought him here
sns now he is not only insane, hut consumP-
tive as well Ee could be completely cured If
his mind were all right. For example, when he
came here from the wards last September he
weighed l12 pounds and in December his weight
had increased 20 12S His returning strength,
however. vas TOO much for him. He tried 20
revive his old circus DAYS. sang and cracked
jokes al such 2 rate that she next month he
lost several pounds. At the present time how
ever. he is on the gain again
The second tent Is duplicate 81 thn frst,
and It also contains beds for twenty patients.
The third and last tent although of much the
same size is used as dining and recreation
room and those Of brighter mind SIT around
reading papers or magazines and answering
questions cohcrently There are others. how
ever. Of such and suicidal turn Of
mind that the stoves wired off 10 prevent
them from getting them and II left 10
themselves they VIII SIS with their caps pulled
down over their eyes. silent and motionless. OF