Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-10-31
A D|SPENSARY
At DANV|LLE


1t is crafty ing that Montour, al.
though one of the smallest counties OF
the Commonwealth, is not to be over
looked in the crusade against tuber-
culosis started by the State depart
ment OF health.
Indeed, in accordance with the law
passed by the last Legislature. DIR.
Samuel q. Dixon, commissioner of
health, is establishing a dispensary in
every county of the State, his assist
ant i'll organizing the work being DIR.
Thomas II. A. Sites. The object is
to conduct one of the most vigorous
campaigns against tuberculosis that
was ever organized.
The following communication ad-
dressed to DR.. E. A. Curry, the med
ical inspector of Montour county, will
fully explain what the department. of
health has in view:
Dear Doctor 1T is the desire of this
department. to establish in Montour
county at the earliest possible mom-
ent dispensary for the examination
and treatment of patients suffering
from tuberculosis of the lungs. 1t is
desired to put this dispenssry under
the care of the county medical in
spector.
1.-The dispensary is intended for
the benefit of patients too poor to pay
for medical attendance and who may be
unable or unwilling to go to sana-
torium. The physician in charge will
be expected to examine and when
necessary to prescribe for applicants
Ito such as may upon investigation
prove worthy he will be authorized to
distribute milk. When.the number of
cases under treatment is great enough
to warrant such step visiting
nurse will be employed to assist in
the work of the dispensary.
1.-The dispensary should be open
from one to three hours about twice
weekly. When the number Of patients
warrant it will be best to rent
room in some locality central and cas-
lily reached by the poorer classes.
Where there seems to be no likelihood
of considerable number of patients
it may be advisable and most conven-
lent to conduct the work from the
office of the county medical inspec-
tor. "
The communication, (which is sign
ed by Thomas H. A. Sites, NJ. D.,
chief OF dispensaries, is careful to EN-
phasize the fact that the dispensary
is intended only for the poor and that
the purpose of the department is to
avoid antagonizing the profession of
any locality. On the contrary, the de-
partment hopes to secure the cooper
alton of all good physicians.
The department is now awaiting a
reply from DR.. Curry to learn wheth-
er or not as medical inspector he will
be able to take charge of the work in
Danville; also what location is best
suited for dispensary purposes and
what the probable cost will be per
month
The department already has in op-
Grafton an excellent dispensary at
Wilkes sBarre, and is exceedingly anx-
ious to get the work of the tubercu.
losis dispensaries under way in all of
the counties of the State without de-
lay.
1t will be the province OF the nurse
employed to make thorough inspec-
tion of the homes Of those applying to
the dispensary for treatment. She will
see to it that the sputum or expector-
alton of the patient is properly collect
ed and either burned or so disinfected
as TO be harmless. She will urge on
all persons with whom she comes in !
contact the great danger of splitting
on the streets. in the railroad sta.
tions, street cars or other public |
places. She will instruct the patients
on such important points as the
amount of fresh air needed, the most |
important foods, etc. She will search |
out and inspect every member of the
household in which consumptive re-
sides and wherever there is the slight
est sign Of i'll health she will do her
best to persuade the suspected person
to go to the dispensary for examina-
tion. 1t is thus that the dispensary
will be able to discover hundreds of |
cases of tuberculosis in the very ear
liest stages and at a time when a cure
is not only possible but probable.
A VICTIM OF
nEDUT0ATET~BC