Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-06-13
EMPLOYMENT
FOR CONSERVATIVES.

Country employment for consumptives is
the subject OF report made by special
committee Of the Committee on the Proven
tion Of Tuberculosis Of the New York
Charity Organization Society. The Com
mittee, bearing in mind that for many years
the dispensary physician and the private
doctor has been ordering consumptive pa
tients to leave the city and to get light
work in the country, decided to make
systematic investigation OF this method OF
dealing with tuberculosis. A special agent 7
was engaged who investigated number OF
the different districts, and who tried to
find places into which would ft the partic-
ular individuals and families whom the
Committee wished to provide for. All |
these people were investigated in regard to
their character, habits, employers refer
ences, family responsibility etc, and gener-
ally as to their fitness for country work.
fser this a careful physical examination
was made, and those that were found strong
enough to do light work without danger,
were given careful training about the care
of their sputum, and were kept under strict
observation until suitable country employ
ment was found for them.
1t took but few days to discover that, |
badly as farm help was needed, the farmers
were not taking kindly to the sort Of labor
commodity offered to them, even at very
low wage. If the men were well, but ig-
norant of farming, they could be taught; it
they were acquainted with farming, but
sick, they could be given the light end of
the work while strength was returning.
But with men both weak and unframed,
and driven to the soil only by disease,
there was, naturally no demand whatever.
Finding that success with single men, or
men whose families could be left behind,
was very doubtful, attention was next d.
rected by the Committee to the tenant
houses standing vacant on number OF
farms They could be had in good condi-
tion, for two or three dollars month, in
Guiding spring or well water, and large
garden plot; while Usually as much fire.
wood and fruit could be had for the gather
ing as would suffice for the needs OF a
family.
| Sixty applications for the positions were
received but of these, 43 were rejected be-
cause of drunkenness, shiftlessness or be-
cause physically unfit. Out of the IL who
were able to pass the double examination
required, but ten were placed in employ
ment, the most Of the others being provided
for by friends or at sanitoria. From the
experience gained in carrying on this ex-
pertinent in which finally but two CASE IS
were entirely successful, two were partially |
SO, md the remaining six were failures; tie
Committee publishes its conclusions as
follows B.
~ Occasionally INDECENT consumptives
can be placed in suitable country employ
ment with exceedingly good results.
| ~ Comparatively few Of such patients
desire such work sufficiently to apply for it,
and the great majority of those applying
are absolutely unsuitable, either from medi-
cal or social reasons, or from both.
| (3) Patients with only incipient tubeT-
culosis and consequently in good physical
condition, can with difficulty be persuaded
to give up their city employment, for the
uncertainties Of work in the country.
moreover, If willing to give up their work,
they should be sent directly to sanato-
rum.
| GA Although labor is scarce there is very
little demand among farmers for men who
cannot do hard days work, and the
physical ana mental makeup Of the ordi-
| nary tenement house sdweller IS very ILL
suited to farm life. In small towns and
villages there are somewhat better oppor
tunities for tradesmen and artisans. Phthis-
iophobia, or the unreasonipg dread of
| tuberculosis, was found to be present among
the country people, but this was perhaps
not so marked as had been anticipated.
(5) Even with the strictest preliminary
medical examination, many cases Of pull
monary tuberculosis, apparently able to
work, will do badly under the strain of
work in the country when away from
medical supervision.
(6A AS result Of our study, we would |
strongly advise physicians and Others not |
s, send consumptives to the country to
shift for themselves for the reason that |
any scheme for the country employment Of |
consumptives should offer facilities for the /
careful adjustment of work to the physical
ability of each patient. This should be .
under medical supervision and should in
clude instruction in the rudiments Of farm
work. A farm school in connection with ,
sanatorium would perhaps be an ideal