Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-28

CuraDl6 disease Chan 1t is generally
thought to be-" is an excerpt from a
paper presented by DR.. w. B. LaForce,
of this city, before the recent annual
meeting at Des Moines Of the Iowa
Association Of Health 4 Officers Of
which he is vice president, 3Iowa's
Needs Of State Sanatorium for Con-
sumptives," was the title of the paper
which not only evoked much favorable
comment from the health officers in
attendance but was paid the compli-
ment Of being ordered, published IN
full in the Iowa Medical Journal, the
official paper of the association in
Iowa.
The paper sets forth ably the bene-
fits to be derived from the establish
ment of q state sanatortum and shows
how other states are supporting san
atoria. Iowa's climate is declared to
be suitable for such an institution and
DR.. LaForce argues that it is the duty
of the state to protect its citizens
from this markedly infectious disease
and to care for its .consumptive poor
In the most effective manner. This is
the second paper DR.. LaForce has
written on this subject, the first hav-
Ing been published in a recent issue
of the Courier. The second paper is
as follows:
The Paper.
"In writing again on this subject,
have thought it proper to begin with
q brief summary of the chief points of
the former paper. They are as fol
lows.
Never In the history of medicine
has there been as much general inter
est regarding tuberculosis as during
the last few years.
The chief causes of this increased
interest were the discovery Of the
bacillus tuberculosis as the causes OF
the disease, that the disease is infec-
uous, highly communicable and like
wise preventable, also, that with bet
ter understanding Of the cause !, we
know now much better how to cure
the disease.
Tuberculosis Is the worst disease
that affects the human race. It causes
more deaths this country than
smallpox, plague, yellow fever, diph-
liberia and scarlet fever combined. In
the census year of 1900-19O1,. Z SO, 900
people in the United States died from
tuberculosis of the lungs. In the state
OF Iowa there were 1906 deaths.
There Is probably no subject which
promises SO much benefit and gain in
health and wealth to the people of the
state as does the crusade against tu-
berculosis. ss . .,t.
Consumption is, a much more cur
able disease thanaa large number OF
the people and even of the medical
profession consider it to be.
Experts IN making post-rnortem ex-
aminations find evidences of healed
tuberculosis in the lungs of 80 to SO
per cent of all deaths.
* "A large majority of these people
never knew they had a, beginning con
sumption.
V This shows that nature cures the
disease in the large majority of cases.
Nature also shows US how she cured
1t, that Is, by abundance Of fresh
air. sunlight and nutritious diet-in a
word, as perfect hygienic conditions
as possible.
Experience has demonstrated the
best place to secure all these condi-
tions with proper regimen is in a mod
ern sanatorium, especially established
and equipped for. the care Of con-
sumptives.
The spntum Of a eonsumptive con-
talns immense numbers of the tuber-
icle bacilli, and is the chief element Of
injection and is he,greatest source OF
danger both to the patient and his as.
epciates.
With many patients 1t requires the
semi-milltary discipline of the sanator-
anm to secure proper care of the
sputum.
Contrary to the belief of most peo-
pie, including physicians also, over
half of the consumptive patients are
cured provided they go to the sanator-
ium, in the first stage of the disease
and stay there an average of 6 months.
Is Popular in Europe.
Throughout the whole OF Europe
with possibly the exception of Russia
and Turkey the sanatorium is ranidlv
coming to be considered as the most
effective and most economical way of
curing the dread disease. England
France, Austria and Germany are the
leaders in this movement but 1t is in
Germany that the most good is being
accomplished. There they have the
most institutions, the best organiza-
ton and the most effective results Be
sides a large number Of private sana-
toria, others by organizations as the
Red Cross society, railroad corpora
lions and large number of insurance
societies are being organized, but the
chief interest lies in the Volkshsil.
static, the peoples healing stations.
Last year there were fifty-seven al
ready established and twenty-six more
being erected.
The empress is protectress and the
chancellor Of the empire is the honor
airy president of the central commit.
tee organizing them. Probably 10000.
consumptives We're treated in sanator.
Ia last year ips Germany. Such mum.
bers show that these institutions have
done. wonderfully good work or there
would not have been SO many estab.
lished.
This phenomenal growth of the san
atoria in Germany has been accom-
plished almost entirely in a single,
decade, And the more wonderful fact
is that most of these have been erect