Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-08-19
THE STATE SANATORIUM.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning lowa's
Newest State Institution and the Treat.
ment Of tuberculosis.

1
| The State Sanatorium for the treat
meut of incipient cases of tuberculosis
has now been in operation six
months. having been opened for the
reception of patients Feb. /, 1908.
The rapidity with which the beds are
being filled shows clearly the need of
just such an institution. More than
this, the number of applicants that
have been refused admittance as not
coming under the classification Gin
cipient' points to the vital import
ance of establishing hospitals for the
care of advanced cases. Up to the
first of July 105 patients had been
received for treatment. while for the
same period of time, over 200 were
turned away.
The aim of the Sanatorium is three.
fold: First, it takes the uninstructed
tuberculous patient from amongst
friends to whom he may unwittingly
be menace and places him in q group
of people, afflicted in like manner.
who are being disciplined and taught
the fundamental principles of the
"open.air'' treatment. Second, it
gives the poor tuberculous patient the
opportunity of receiving proper care
and treatment Third, it aims to cure
the patient, thus giving back to the
state life restored to its working
capacity.
The person suffering from tubercu-
losis, who is unaware that the disease
has fastened itself upon him. may be
throwing from his lungs, quite un-
suspectingly, millions of death deal
ing" germs If he is fortunate enough
to learn the nature of his malady be-
fore it has become advanced, he has
the opportunity of retiring to the
Sanatorium with a reasonable hope of
cure, thus sparing himself years of
suffering and invalidism, and better
still lessening the danger of infection
| to those about him.
In his soiourn at the Sanatorium he
learns facts concerning his disease
| important to him as an individual and
as one of community. Most deeply
and persIstently impressed on his
tmind are the now we'll known truths
that tuberculosis is cause by a
specific germ and that it is transmit
ted by the dried sputum. carried
about in the dust. of those afflicted
with the disease. He learns that in
such an institution danger is reduced
to minimum by the burning of
sputum in it's moist and harmless
state and sterilizing any or everything
suspected OF containing tuberculosis
matter. OF almost equal Importance
with knowledge of the disease is
the personal factor courage" in the
struggle to overcome the disease.
The desire for the comforts of life
and all outside interests must be
secondary if he would effect cure.
II requires "mind fixed on its set
purpose" and unfaltering zeal to live
out of doors night and day with the
thermometer lowering about zero, to
take milk and eggs in abundance,
especially where there is a natural
antipathy to them, and to rest rest
rest 1t would be much easier, more
pleasant and convenient TO take
medicine and let it do tlIe work.
The germ thrives and multiplies in
damp vitiated air. hence the need Tor
a maximum of pure, dry air, next the
nourishing food and the rest increase
the resistance in the body to the
poisons thrown into the system. After
six or eight months at the Sanator.
ium. with disease apparently arrested.
he returns home no longer menace,
rather missionary bearing the gospel
of sunlight. fresh air and cleanliness
and the blessed tidings of hope to the
consumptive.
/ With this institution now in opera
tion a chance of recovery is offered to
the poor consumptive. Formerly.
even though the disease was dis
covered in its early stage. no alter
native was open to such an one. He
worked until Death with bony finger
5eckoned him to repose. Where means
are lacking they are not required and
he is given every care and attention
chat will help him ON the road to re-
covery.
The fact that this disease lays hold
ON men and women in their prime,
in a great majority of cases. just
when the earning capacity is the
greatest. means an immense financial
loss to the state. So that from a
material point of view the Sanator-
ium is an investment whose dividend
may be represented by men and wo-
men restored to wage-earning power.
In conclusion then the State Sana-
torium benefits the individual, the
public and the state itself and time