New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
YORK FOR CONSUMPTIVES
Results of Experiments to Secure 1t
IN the Country.

Country employment for consumptives IS the sub
iect of a report made BY a special committee OF
the committee the prevention of tuberculosis OF
the New York Charity Organization Society. The
committee. bearing in mind that for many years
the dspensary physician and the private doctor
have been ordering COnsUmptive patients 70 leave
the city and TO get light work in the country, de-
cided to make a systematic investigation of this
method OF dealing with tuberculosis A special
agent was engaged. who investigated a number OF
the different districts and who tried TO find places
into which would dt tho particular individuals and
families whom the committee wished to provide
for. All these people were Investigated in regard
to their character. habits. employers references,
family responsibility etc, and generally as TO
their fitness for country work
1t took only few days TO discover that. badly
as farm help needed. the farmers were noe
taking kindly to the sort Of labor commodity
offered 10 them. even at low wages. II the men
well, but ignorant Of farming, they could ba
taught: If they acquainted with farming. but
sick they could have the light end OF the work
& @ne srsngtn was TsI9rng ii 6ot WI Win M men ooea IA
disease. there was naturally. no demand what
Finding that success with single men, men
whose families could be left behind, doubtful.
attention was next directed by the committee to
the tenant houses standing vacant on a number OF
farms They eGuld be had In good condition for
well water and a large garden plot; while usually
family.
but OF these fOrty-three We're rejected because ef
drunkenness shiitlessnes3 because hysicaliy
unfit Out OF the seventeen who were able TO pass
the double examination required, only ten were
placed in employment. most OF the others being
provided for by friends or at sanatOriums. From
the experience gained in carrying on this expert
ment in which finally only two cases were entirely
successful. were partially and the remaining
six failures the committee publishes it's
clusiOns as follows:
FIrst-Occasionally INDECENT consumptives be
placed in suitable country employment with
ceedingly good results.
Second-COmpaTatvely few of such patients desire
such work sufficiently to.appy for it, and the great
majority of those applying are absolutely unsuita-
ble either from medical or social reasons, or from
both.
Third-Patents with incpieRt tuberculosis only.
and consequently in good physical condition. can
with difficulty be persuaded 10 give up their city
country: Moreover. If willing TO give up their
work they should be sent directly TO a sanato-luEn
FouIth-Altheugh labor is scarce. there is very
little demand aEhons FARMERS Tor hlsh VINO eannoS
do hard days work, and the physical and mental
makeup OF the ordinary tenement house dwste-
IS very III suited TO farm life. In small towns
ties for tradesnsn and artisans Phthiscphsbia, OF
the unreasoning dread OF tubercUlesls, vas found
perhaps rot SO marked had bss2 aatiei-
Fffth1Even witA the stF,etest preliminary vssds-
eulosis, apparently abs 70 ToEk VIII do badly
under the strain ef work in ths cpuatEy whsa away
from medical supervision.
advise physicians and others net to send con-
sumpttves to the country to shift for themselves.
employment OF consumptves should offer facilities
for the careful adjustment OF work 10 the physical
ability OF each patient. This should be under
medical supervision. and should include instrue-
ton In the rudiments of farm work. farm
school in connection with Sanatorturn would
perhaps be an IDEAL arrangement