The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-02-12
A Free tuberculosis Dispensary.

The State Department OF Health's Forest
County Dispensary for tuberculosis, which
was opened recently at Tionesta will play
an imprtant part in stamping out consump-
tion in our district. The Dispensary is
open every Saturday from 9 to II a. m, at
the Office of DR.. f. ]. Bovard, who is the
State Department of Health's efficient
Medical Inspector for this county. DR..
Bovard has been tireless in his work to get
the dispensary under way. The Dispensary
furnishes free medical treatment and ad-
vice to the victims of tuberculosis among
the poor of Forest County. Where necess-
ary, INDECENT patients are supplied with
fresh eggs and milk daily. The Dispen-
sary officials however will guard them
selves against being imposed upon to fur
nish provisions to other members of the
family. Patients are also supplied with
paper spitum cups and tissue paper napkins.
The opening of the Forest County Dispen-
sary is in line with the work that State
Health Commissioner is doing throughout
NbO VhbAo oNotoI ONCA AOAhy ouoh
ssries having already been opened in as
many counties. There are many victims
of tuberculosis who are not able to go to the
State Ssnatoria, in many cases because they
are the wage earners of their families, and
these people must be taken care of. They
especially need instruction rs TO the precau.
tions they must take in their homes and in
their work shop so that they may not spread
the disease. To give such instruction and
follow it up and see that the precautionary
measures are carried out in the great object
OF the dispeRsary work For this reason
it will be mighty factor in stamping out
tuberculosis in Forest County Patients
visiting the dispensary are carefully ex-
amined by the physicians in charge of the
clinic. Such medcine as is needed is
given, but the principal reliance will be
upon drilling into every tuberculosis suffer- |
er the necessity of plenty of fresh air, proper |
diet and careful regulations of habits of life. |
Every patient is urged of course TO sleep |
with windows wide open in hammock |
swung out of doors if possible The wage |
Garner who is obliged to spend a number of |
hours each day indoors is made to under
stand that If it is impossible for him to
change his occupation, life can only be
spared by spending all his leisure hours in
the open air. Plenty of rest is also necess-
ary for his recovery and 20 those in charge
of the disPensary are helping the patients
solve the problem of how to continue to
earn his daily wages and yet secure the
necessary amount of rest and fresh air.
The question of diet is receiving especial
attention. 1t is easy to tell tuberculosis
patient TO eat plenty of fresh eggs and drink
a large amount of pure milk, but to get the
patient to do this is another thing, as few
of them will consume sufficient eggs with.
out constant urging. Usually consump-
tives are too warmly clad, heavy flannel un'
derwear supplemented by thick chest pads is
very often worn in warm weather. The
evil effects of this continual over clothing
are so often apparent that great care must
be taken to give proper advice. Clothing
should conform to the weather. All this
is covered in advice given to those patients
who visit the dispensary. AS soon as the
number of patients warrant it a trained
nurse will be appointed on the Dispeusary
sJaH 10 Vlslt tne nome OF every JuOerCulOSlS
patient who registers at the Dispensary.
Inside the home the visiting nurse will find
out what seem to be the trihling precautions
that are unheeded but the non-observance of
which is the principal cause of the spread of
the infection. Is the tooth brush used by
the patient kept by the side of the others in
that home? Is a common towel used? Does
the consumptive use the same bed with any
other person? Is there any disinfection of
bedding, eating utensils and of all
other articles used by The patient? All
these things will be care fully investigated
by the visiting nurse who will also ascer-
tain if the patient is using the sputum cups
and paper napkins given out at the dis
pensary. The whole life of the househould
will be carefully studied by the nurse and
every member will receive thorough in
struction as to what is necessary to prevent
them from being infected by the consump-
tive patient. In many cases the nurse will
find brother or sister in which tube rculo-
sis is su spected This member of the fam
lily will be urged to come to the dispensary
for examination, and many case will thus
be found and placed under treatment at a
time that will insure recovery ifproper ca re
is taken. Every effort is being made TO
have the work of the dispensary known
throughout the entire county of Forest 80
that as many as possible may take advan-