New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06
SEEKING HEALTH THEY DIE FROM NEGLECT.
SAD CONDITION OF MANY DESTITUTE CONSUME
TIVES IN NEW MEXICO DESCRIBED By Il WOMAN.

food he was dependent on chance charity. He
had come out here in fair condition. and under
proper care might have so advanced as TO be
useful citizen. but every day Of exhausting toll
&C rried him further from hope OF ultimate re-
covery.
friend of mine. a working uan. gives an
other man 81 80 a week. to pay the rent Of the
unsanitary hole where he sleeps. The bene-
hciary was an Eastern editor. well educated
and travelled His people at home are not web
to do. or he does not let them know OF his fear
ful straits. but dying by inches. living a dogs
life on the charity Of men not much better or
than himself.
Another man was found in freight car noe
long since. starved to death The town and tho
railroad fought over who would have 10 bury
him
Many boarding house keepers viii not taks
the very i'll. and they turn out those who ars
rapidly going down One poor chap died In the
hack while vainly seeking a place that would
take him in. The woman who kept the house
where he roomed simply told him. I'm sorry.
Mr. X. but you're too sick You'll have TO ind
another place" 1t sounds harsh. but. after all
her home not a hospital
Few OF the lodging houses have board as werf-
The result is that around meal time hundreds
Of wretched creatures. unfit to walk. are
crawling between their roOming places and tho
restaurants boarding houses.
Many a person has been found dead IN BED
by the caretaker with evidences OF hsmorrhage.
or perhaps heart failure. 1 am putting things
very mildly Volumes could be written OF ths
unutterable misery endured by sick people.
young and old. thousands OF miles away from
home. alone and uncared for
In such hospitals as they have out hefs tbs
treatment is very costly. and even II they havs
charity clause in their charters II IL practi-
caIy null and void I have IN my possession
bills presented by the local institution 70 PEN
niless patients. who warned that they
must clear out II unable to pay. The charges
for the most primitive care exceed those OF ths
best New-York hospitals for day and nighs
nursing.
Il f. clear that the only remedy for this STATE
Of affairs Is the building OF dozen good sana-
forums in this dry land. where those who cam
pay little or nothing at all can have a fsir
chance for life.
II private individuals Of means viii not On
this the government should. As matter oe
economy II would be wise step. Over chs
hundred thousand lives sacrificed every
year TO this white scourge. simply because no
one makes Il his business to fight the thing tn
diligently.
II there were a system OF sanatoriums through
the Southwest. doctors could send out their pa
| tents at the first symptoms OF the disease. with
| a good hope OF completes recovery.
AS IL is 10 Is not 10 be wondered at that pa
| tents postpone to the last moment the hazard
| Of coming out to the fearful uncertainties of
life here under prevailing conditions. and thus
i lose their only chance.
The present unsystenIatic. stupid way %
/ dealing with this disease Is Infinitely more cost
| ly to the country than the suggested system &C
sanatoriums would be-