Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-05-15
FORT BAYARO HOSPITAL.
Money Being Expended in Some
Necessary Improvements.
MORE ROOM FOR PATIENTS.

Fort Bayard, Grant county. and the
marvellous cures of consumption in
New Mexico by climate alone. The ar
ticle is well illustrated and a good ad-
vertisement of New Mexico's climate.
Among other things, the article which
is under Fort Bayard date, says:
The United States general hospital
for consumptives at Fort Bayard, is
looming in for a measure of Uncle
Sans special attention Just at present.
The big sanitarium has had such phe-
nomenal success in the treatment Of
tubercular cases that the government
has decided to greatly enlarge its ca
pacity, improve its equipment and, In
short, make it the greatest tubercul-
osis hospital in the country. The plan
is to expend the sum of 800 900 in en-.
larging and improving the sanitarium,
and the appropriation for that purpose
has already been made by congress.
Another important change has been
made. Heretofore only enlisted men of
the regular army have been admitted
to Fort Bayard. Under the new ar
rangement the institution is to be
thrown open to soldiers and sailors
alike, and made a regular army and
navy hospital. Already about twenty
five men of the navy and the marine
corps have entered the hospital, spec
ial authority, however, being given in
each of these cases.
Fort Bayard lies in a beautiful little
valley in the foothills of the mountains
of southwestern New Mexico. at an al
titude of nearly 1000 feet. 1t is nine
miles from the fourishing town of Sill
yer City, one of New Mexico'c best lit
tie cities. Here there is perpetual gol-
den sunshine, unclouded azure sky,
fine scenery and pure, dry, bracing air
ural conditions, in conjunction with
the most skillful, scientific and thor
ougly systematized treatment, nave
produced cures which are little short
of remarkable.
There are now at the sanitarium
nearly $50 patients, and the number is
increasing daily. Larger facilities are
already a necessity. When all the
projected improvements materialize it
is probable that the sanitarium will be
able to accommodate between 400 and
500 men.
A recent substantial increase in
equipment is the new solarium, or sun
parlor, which has been in use since
February. 1t Is a large structure, built
entirely of steel and glass, and gives
delicate consumptives a chance to en-
joy comfortably the germ killing sun
shine regardless of the outside temper
ature.
The hospital owes much of it's sue
cess and efficiency to the mastery
management of Major ID. M. Appel,
who for several years was in command
of the post and who brought the work
of the sanitarium prominently before
the public eye. Major Appel has been
transferred to the Philippines, for
which point he sailed in January. His
successor is Lieutenant Colonel Come
gys, deputy surgeon general of the
United States army, who is an officer
of great ability and energy, and who
will undoubtedly keep the work of the
institution up to the highest standard
An important arrangement has been
made lately, which does away with
much OF the red tape heretofore con
nected with admission to the hospital
The consumptive is now admitted by
direct negotiation between the com
mandant and the officer in charge o
the post from which the patient comes
Formerly it was necessary to make /;
, trip to Washington and to go through
other tedious preliminaries before one
|, could be admitted. Under the new ar
hospital a month sooner than formerly
sometimes a month of precious time
to the man who is suffering from thu
ravages Of the dread disease.
Fort Bayard is a very picturesque
and interesting place to visit, with its
great quadrangle, around which stands
the big hospital, the neat officers cot
tages, the long rows of hospital ware
buildings and the rambling ediice II
which the general Offices and the post
office are located. The long adobe fort
with it's arched gateway, the store
house, dairy barns, etc, make up
complement of buildings that amount
to a fair sized village.
The Fort Bayard hospital is a grea
boon to the soldiers and sailor boy
who fall a prey to pulmonary con
sumption, and it is doubtful If there
another place in the country wher
they would stand such a splendi'
chance of soon regaining vigorou
health. The changes to be made 500
will add greatly to the usefulness q
this magnificent institution and max
it one of which the government ma
well be proud.