New-York tribune., 1907-01-27
20 HELP CONSUMPTIVES.
81 Plan to Set Them at Work t'
Forest Reserves to Care for Trees.

The brain Of a thinker I'm the Keystone State
has evolved a plan for the utilization OF naturai
advantages in the cure of consumption and the
nfeguarding OF the community from tuberculous
Infection
PENNSYLVANIA combines among its public utfi-
fies large state forestry reservations. a state
school of forestry devoted exclusively to train
ing young men for its forest service, liberal for
est laws which allow of Improvement cuttings as
well as Improvement paintings. and camp for
consumptives. to which ailing persons may go IL
they cannot for want of funds. go to more ex-
pensive health resorts. Thinking over this com
bination Of state institutions. IT occurred TO Dr-
J. T. Rothrock of Mount Alto. that 1t would be
4 good plan TO unite them In the interest OF the
kreat body of consumptives and OF the com
munity at large as well His argument In favor
Of the plan is thus set forth succincuy py hin-
self
'"The unguarded conSumptfVes arc prooapS
more dangerous to the community than the m
zane persons who are now under state care
would be If liberated. The latter would be re
strained to a certain extent by their friends,
whereas the public is seldom so guarded against
ronsumptives who are scattering the germs OF
Escase In all directions.
81 believe a wide reaching. economical system
D possible by which most, II not xIl, OF such
n~rsons may be provided for. Pennsylvania has
Most Of it must be replanted in young trees To
% this work not less than a billion seedlings
must be raised and transplanted into the ground
where they are TO grow. II would require
hprve force of men to raise and transplant an
rruaIly million trees. Even IL this were done
the task OF reforesting the state would require
q thousand years A work so slowly done would
exu utterly to meet the economic exigencies
which demand for the prosperity or the COM
rouweaIth that all of our rocky watersheds
.bould be devoted to the growth Of timber. II
would be only drop in the bucket II the state
transplanted annually four million forest seed
rngs. That would simply cover four thousand
acres or six and one-fourtn square miles
Little of the labor required in raising and
transplanting seedlings IS OF hard or exhaust
ing character. Most OF It is very light II Is
sn out OF doors and IL would be In our health
belt where the air Is pure Life under such
conditions would be for the convaescent cnn-
sumptive more desirable In every way than life
on farm. and believe II would also be safe
for the community. In addition TO this, willow
cuiture and the manufacture OF baskets and
other wicker work could be extensively
Quoted. Small articles OF rustic work would
furnish an endless opportunity for those who
had a constructive turn"
As a practical beginning. DR.. RothrOck points
to The work of the Mountain Camp Sanatorium.
IN Franklin County. Penn There the consump
tive unable to pay for treatment Is received and
treated free The proposition is to send all the
convalescent patients from this sanatorium TO
the state school OF forestry and from there 20 the
open reservations. where the life of the forest
ranger, a pure. healthy. outdoor occupation.
would not only serve to keep the convalcscent
from falling back into the old condition OF III
health. but would prevent danger to the public
from the spreading Of germs that might still be
dormant IN the system of the cOnsumptive- DR.
ROthrock ends his plea for the cOnsumptive with
this significant argument;
'It will cost something less than any other
plan proposed. and bear in mind IL you will that
whether you cure these persons whose poverty
appeals to your generosity or whether you sup
port them in hospitals county homes and
finally lay them to rest In plain coffin. you
must and do ultimately bear the expense It
b cheaper TO cure them and restore them TO
the ranks Of productive citizenship than to
board and bury them"
IL viii be an interesting sight when the nation