Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-04-27
The SAN|TARIUM
AT FORT BAYARD
One Hundred Thousand Dollars Is Being
Expended in Improvements and the
Conditions for Entrance Have Been
Made Much More Liberal Than
They Were Formerly.
the POST WILL SOON
' ACCOMMODATE tS 500 PATIENTS

The Rocky Mountain News of yester-
day publishes a half page article on
Fort Bayard, Grant county, and the
marvellous cures of consumption in New
Mexico by climate alone. The article is
well illustrated and a good ADVERTISE
ment of New Mexco'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
coming in for a measure of Uncle
Sans special attention just at present.
The big sanitarium has mad such phe-
nomenal success in the treatment of
tubercular cases that the government
has decided to greatly enlarge it's ca
pacity improve it's equipment and, in
short, make it the greatest tuberculosis
hospital in The country. The plan is to
expend the sum of 100000 in enlargine
and improving the sanitarium, and the
appropriation for that purpose has al
ready been made by congress.
Another important change has beer
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 rs mer
of the navy and the marine corps have
entered the hospital. special 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 hourishing town of Sill
yer City, one of New Mexicos best lit
tie cities. Here there is perpetual gol-
den sunshine, unclouded azure sky, fine
scenery and pure, dry, bracing air all
the year round. These splendid natur-
al conditions, in conjunction with the
most skillful, scientific and thoroughly
systematized treatment, have produced
cures which are little short of remark
able.
There are now at the sanitarlun
nearly $50 patients, and the number IL
increasing daily. Larger facilities arc
already necessity. When all the
projected improvements materialize il
is probable that the sanitarium will bt
able TO accommodate between 400 ant
800 men.
A recent substantial increase II
| equipment is the new sOlarium, or sur
parlor, which has been in use since
February. It is a large structure, bull
entirely of steel and glass, and gives
delicate consumptives chance TO ell
ioy 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 maSterl!
management of Major d. M. Appeli
who for several years was in command
of the post and who brought the Wori
of the sanitarium prominently befor'
the public eye. Major Appel has bee'
transferred to the Philippines, 10
which point he sailed in January. hi
successor is Lieutenant Colonel Come
gys. deputy surgeon general of tn
United States army, who is an Once
of great ability and energy, ana Wh
will undoubtedly keep the work OF tn
institution up to the highest standard
An important arrangement has peei
made lately which does away VIII
much of the red tape heretofore con
nected with admission to the hosplta
The consumptive is now admitted D
direct negotiation between the com
lmandant and the officer in charge Q
the post from which the patient comes
Formerly it was necessary to make
trip to Washington and to go throug
other tedious preliminaries before on
could be admitted. Under the new al
rangement the applicant gets into tn
hospital a month sooner than formerl
|-sometimes a month of precious tim
to the man who is suffering from tn
lrayages of the dread disease
Fort Bayard is very picturesqu
land interesting place to visit. with II
great quadrangle, around which stant
the big hospital, the neat officers co
ltages, the long rows of hospital war
buildings and the rambling edifice
which the general offices and the pos
Ioffice are located. The long adobe for
with it's arched gateway, the store
house, dairy barns, etc. make up
complement of buildings that amoun
to a fair-sized village.
The Fort Bayard hospital is gref
boon to the soldiers and sailor boy
who fall a prey to pulmonary cor
sumption, and it is doubtful if there
another place in the country whel
they would stand such splendi
chance of soon regaining vigoro,
health. The changes to be made 500
will add greatly to the usefulness
this magnificent institution and maj
lit one of which the government ma
well be proud.