Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-20

" houndreds of unfortunates have
NJ in years past found a refuge
kNY71F from the chilling blasts Of ad-
kUek8h1I Versity. Douglas county has just
N6AA dedicated another memorial to
the sympathies OF It's citizens. an evidence
It's people are keenly sensitive to the needs
OF those derelicts who through adversely bad
judgment or unsanitary habits find II neces-
cary to spend the last years OF their lives
on deaths waiting list in a public institution.
The opening Of the new tuberculosis ward
by the county authorities is an evidence
this county Is not subject 10 the criticism
that has been passed on cities and countles
generally that they are the last to adopt
new and improved methods in the conduct
OF public institutions On the contrary,
Douglas county is the pioneer in making
provision for the treatment Of the white
pIague by the new and now generally ac-
cepted open air method. The tuberculosis
ward at the county hospital Is the only
building in Omaha devoted exclusively to
the open air treatment Of consumptive
patients, and with It's complete equipment
and its scientific arrangements II promises
10 be an important factor in setting the
standards OF public opinion in the care OF
tuberculosis sufferers.
ina the campa an which has been waged
" iIy5lNlhls duo pUIllutUTDp SIS lOr the
elimination Of this wasting disease has had
an effect on the mind OF the ordinary
citizen is shown by the fact the voters by
almost three to ore at the fall election
authorized the county board to build this
ward for the INDECENT victims Of the plague
In this county. While the exact cost Of tho
building has not been computed, It will
cost exclusive of furnishings, upwards OF
500. No money has been wasted en- It,
but when it i is finally completed 1t will con-
tain all the necessary equipment for the
comfort as well as the treatment of those
unfortIratc enough to have to use It.
The building stands in an indentation
made by the two wings Of tbs county
hospital proper, on either side and the con-
Meeting passageway which forms the back
to the indentation. 1t is on the south side
Of the building and will therefore be pro-
tected from the cold wlrds from the north
In the winter and have the fun benefit Of
the summer breeze from the south.
In every department the effort OF the
architect, Thomas r. kimball, has been
to provide the frAest and easiest venti-
lation, giving the patients practically the
advantages of the open air, with the COM
forts OF a closed house. 1t will enable the
sufferer to breath the life-giving outdoor
atmosphere summer and winter, and at the
artificial heat. The curative power of Sun
light has also been taken into consideration
in the planning of the ward, and large
glass windows in the living room and the
open screened porch give free access to the
lfe-giving rays.
Taken as a whole, the building will give
better and more scientific care to its tuber-
cult sis patients than is given to consump-
tive victims anywhere else In Omaha.
Al rp,cant th,rn ar. -,,ya- Aa,aY,,n-FH-,-
at the hospital. all men, and this will be
about the average. The number of men
always exceeds the number of women, and
for this reason provision has been made for
more than twice as many men as women.
The mems sleeping room will accommodate
ten beds, while the women's will hold only
four. This is believed to be ample pro-
vision for the needs OF the county for a
number OF years. but If the demand should
ever exceed the amount OF space, addi-
tional accommodations can be furnished at
a low cost by the extending OF the end
walls of the sleeping apartments.
Besides the protection given by the hos
pital buildings proper on three sides, the
tuberculosis ward is ideally located In other
respects. In front there is a wide stretch
Of lawn, on which the patients can exer-
else. Beyond there is a grove OF trees pro-
vides shade for hot days. Both shade and
lawn are Of easy access and can be en-
joyed even by the weaker patients in the
last throes of the disease.
The entrance to the ward from the main
hospital building is through the main pass
age way between the two wings and an