Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-03

consumptiyes OF small means; TO
maintain q place where destitute VIC
Tins Of tuberculosis may be cared for
and cured at u minimum cost; TO re-
| duce c%ontagion In our cities and
towns, and TO restore 10 health and
activity as many as possible OF those
who cannot be cured under the con-
ditions under which they are living.
The statistics show that tuberculo-
| sis kills one out Of every seven OF the
worlds population. and that one
third OF the deaths between the ages
OF fifteen and forty.fiye are due TO
that disease. Last year 100000 per-
sons In the United States were sur
fering from II, and OF these a con.
siderable proportion belonged TO In
~surance fraternities. Last year there
were l72,S00 deaths from %tuberculo-
sis In the United States. 1t Is not
necessary TO say anything more con-
corning the needs OF such an institu'
ton.
As Is usual In such cases, there IL
n difference OF opinion as 10 how he
movement started. Some people say
that the idea OF q great national SAM.
tarium like this was first suggested
by DIR. Mayfield OF ST. Louis. He lost
a son from the dread disease, who, he
believes, might have been saved II
there had been a place for him to go,
and the bereaved father has been agi'
, tating the subject ever since.
DR.. II. A. Warner Of Topeka, Kas.
medical director OF one OF the biz
orders, IL also credited with the bene
flcient idea. In 1902 he sent a cir
cular to the members Of his order
telling them that the rapid strides
0 which had been made during the las
. three years for the prevention, relie'
I and cure OF tuberculosis had awakened
In him a desire to see the fraterni
k ties enter upon the work. Ever!
o one OF us desires to live as long al
s he can" he says, 'and every on
g should help the other to live as lon
as possible. That Is the ~fraterna
side OF this kind Of a project.
IS "The second idea to be entertaine'
1. Is the benefit financially TO accrue t
e the societies as q result Of prolongin
d the lives of their members. The say
Ing In dollars would reach into tn
10 thOusands--yes, hundreds Of thOu'
o ands. There Is no doubt that tn
financial benefit resulting therefor
n. would far, very far, exceed the GU
s., lay in building and caring for such a
~ institution.
s- THAT a great number Of people d
st from tuberculosis Is not to be questio
to ed. Notwithstanding the great ca
or exercised by the life insurance COZ
panies and societies, through the
medical examiners, many people fiji
their way into our ranks who soon
or later die from tuberculosis in sor
form. The statistics Of various orga
izations engaged in the business of II
insurance show the death rate frc
this cause alone to be above 16 =
- cent OF the total deaths. This bel
true, 1t well becomes us to give sol
m special attention to this individual d
ease.
There is no doubt that, with {
- present knowledge Of caring for tht
who are In the incipient stages OF
disease, fully 60 per cent could
~ cured permanently, while all otl
~ classes would be benefited to a gre
m. er or lesser degree could they have
.ns privileges and treatment which a W
loA, regulated sanitarium located either
Colorado or New Mexico could aft
.ark them.
with 100000 members in the
ternities a contribution Of l cen
~ month per member for n year wo
~ raise a fund Of 100000 with which
-. purchase the ground and erect
buildings. II seems reasonable to
llieve that l cent per member tv