East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-12-17
-FOUR HUNDRED
IS|CK, ONE BED
STARTLING REVELATIONS OF
LACK OF ACCOMMODATIONS
Destitute Consumptiyes of United
STAKES In Deplorable Condition-Na-
tional Association for Study anu
Prevention OF Tuberculosis Makes
An Investigation.

Fifteen thousand beds and 6OO'ooV
patients. or 400 consumptives LOT e'-
erv bed. is a statement made today by
rho National Association for the
studv and Prevention of tuberculosis
in its investigation as TO the need OF
hods for destitute consumptives in the
United States.
Gathering statistics from every
state in the country and from every
hospital in which any provision what-
ever is made for tuberculosis patients
IL has been found that the total num-
number OF beds provided, both by
public and private resources, Is less
than $1,000. over against these tig-
ures. the National Association for the
Study and Prevention of tuberculosis
has placed the fact that there are
according to the estimate OF the Uni
ted States bureau of the census at
least 10000 living cases of tuoercu-
losis in this country and that at least
10000 persons die from this disease
every year.
When analyzed as TO their geo.
graphical distribution. New York LEADS
the list with 1856 beds, while Penn
sylvania comes next with over 1901
Colorado and Massachusetts, each nave
over 1850. while New Mexico, the
next in order. has 9l5 beds for con-
sumptives. Several states provide less
than 20 beds, among these being Della
ware. Kansas and South Carolina
while some of the states, such as Ida
no Wyoming. Utah and Nevada. make
no provision whatever for tuberculo-
sis patients. either in private or pub
lie hospitals.
Principal Resorts
The Adirondack region in New
York state: Colorado, and particular
lv the regions about Denver and COL
orado Springs; New Mexico, Arizona
and the southwest; and North Caro-
lima. are the principal resorts toi
consumptives. The recent demonstra-
tions OF experts, that tuberculosis
can be cured in any climate, has led
TO a considerable distribution or the
bed capacity and has called into eX-
istence a large number of small sana-
toria. hospitals and day camps, some
OF them with a capacity of only slS
beds. This is shown by the fact that
while the number of sanatoria during
the last four years has more thar
doubled. the increase in the number
of beds has been only about 90 pei
cent.
The most striking fact emphasized
by the investigation is that, while the
lack OF beds for all classes of con-
sumptives is so manifest Throughout
the country, the number of beds need
ed for advanced cases is far greater
than the number needed for all the
other stages put together.
Few Beds for Bad Cases.
OF the $4,000 beds at present avail
able for all classes of consumptives
less than 5000 are for advanced cases
Computing that there are at leas'
100000 living cases in the advanced
stages OF tuberculosis in the United
States at the present time, the neeo
for a large number of additional beds
for this most deserving class is evi-
dent. DR.. John S. Billings, of the
health department of New York city
estimates that about 60 to 10 per cent
of the advanced cases are unable tC
provide for their proper care at home
This means that over 10000 beds in
hospitals for advanced cases should o'
provided. The need for accommoda'
tion for advanced cases is further en-
phasized by the fact that every expert
and specialist has agreed on this con-
clusion, that consumption will never bt
eradicated until the advanced cases oi
the disease are isolated. either in theii
homes or in institutions. DIR. Kocf
says, Every case of tuberculosis