Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-14
HOSPITAL caMPiin THE DESERT,
st. Louis PhiIanthropist Founded q
unioue Retreat For consumptives.

81. LOUIS Philantnropist Founocu
Unique Retreat For consumptives.
To found a charity out on the great
American desert for persons In that
stage Of health where 1t is to be sup
posed they should want to go any
where else than on the sun-baked
plains is the novel fad of st. Louis
philanthropist, N. o. Nelson. Not
alone that, but 1t was his original
idea to make this desert charity self
supporting. fitting 1t with ranches
where alfalfa and barley and ca,ta-
loupes and the like could be raised.
and while the tenants paid but nom-
inal dollar a week for tents, or 50
where board was Included, the farm
should make up the remainder.
The story Of his going into what
is almost the Death Valley for health
is interesting. The site Of the place
Is Indio, Cal, a mere hamlet, given over
almost exclusively to railway employ
ees and fugitives from the great white
plague-consumption.
On what was the bed Of a primi-
tive ocean, the sand still made up OF
millions Of marine clam shells and
other tiny spiral conches. and sup
porting no cact, but only a low
brush, the Nelson philanthropy pur-
chased ia acres Of land at an aver
age of 800 an acre. The outdoor
camp for consumptives was then
opened and put in charge Of a general
foreman, who was to supervise the
ranches for raising the crops indicated.
At first things went well, but II
soon became apparent that sick men
can't work well and that 1t would be
exceedingly difficult to keep up the
farming. AS result that side Of the
venture has been dropped and the
place is supported almost entirely by
the st. Louis man. At the same time
it Is not made absolutely free, but
where persons cannot pay the nomi-
nal 81 to SO means are found to let
them work Off their board.
obviously the desert camp does
not cure. 1t does, however, cause
wonderful rallying. Men have been
brought here on stretchers. and under
influence Of sleeping powders, and
they have been brought to almost
perfect health.
The camp itself consists Of about
thirty tents, set in a hollow square
about a field of very long, dry grass.
Each of these tents rests on a wooden
flooring, and facing the centre, where
there is an open summer house, with
books and magazines and a Flagstaff.
At one end of the piazza the adobe cot
tage of the superintendent is located
Inside the area the inmates drag away
time as they can, the women at quilt
ing, the men in lounging or fixing
their guns. Now and then they 60
hunting out in the desert for hare or
quail or ducks.
At each tent there burns a gasolene
lamp at night. Inside there Is shelf
for the little cup used by the sick. a
double iron bedstead. whitened over, a
small iron cot, and table resting on
a rug. These tables have their oil
cloth covers, lamp and books and pa
pers. Old soap boxes beneath serve
for slowing away other objects.
The tents are practically all the same
size, 12x14 feet. To them the charity
furnishes bed and bedding, chairs,
stove and washing utensils.
The charity is open to any one. The
days work at the camp is most SIM
pie. Patients breakfast at 1880 o'clock
on mush and milk, eggs and coffee. AT
noon there is soup, a little meat and
potatoes, but no dessert. In the even
ing at o'clock supper is served. Sun
day meals are the same.
There are now some twenty-five per-
sons at the camp. Those who do not
do their own cooking or eat at the gen.
eral mess tent board themselves in the
hotel.
The idea Of the cure, however, out
in the blistering desert Tor healtn Is
unique. Something like 1877 miles
from New Orleans, Indio lies twenty
FIVE feet below the sea level. Its non
humidity is the wonder Of the medical
world. Complete saturation of the air
by water is marked by 100 per cent;
absolutely vaporless air Is set at zero.
Ten per cent is rare, even in arid Ara
bia. In fact, the average humidity OF
the north Atlantic is 80 per cent. Here
in Indio they have registered per
cent: the average Is Is. AS a result,
there is not much water for the benefit
Of the thirsty pulmonary tubercle, and
without moisture he cannot incubate.
Hence the value Of the site for the
charity.--St. Louis Globe Democrat.
1T Even a wise man and his money
are soon parted by the undertaken.