The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-01-16

years or more, can recall now io"
cases we had prior to 1890. Since then
the number OF cases has raploiy
increased. Why this rapid increase?
Well, we might inquire, Why not
greater increase? for there has oeeh
no systematic effort to prevent iniec-
ton, and no education OF the puollc
as to the nature OF the disease or
methods OF prevention and cure.
Upon the medical profession must
rest the responsibility of enlightening
the public. The profession, true TO
her instincts and traditions, is ever
ready to sacrifice self-interests for the
welfare of the public, but to accom-
plish much we must have financial
aid.
The efforts being made to establish
federal cabinet Office, with Secre-
tary OF Public Health as a cabinet
officer, is a move in the right direc-
ton, and il successful will do much
to systematic the work.
Referring more directly to the SUBJ
iect OF state schools for the education
of tubercular school children for the
state of South Dakota, | am aware, on
account of the large expense neces-
sary to provide buildings and equip
them for properly educating and
treating these unfortunate children,
the subject will not meet with popular
approval, but / hold it is not too
early to begin the slow process OF
educating the public to the necessity
of vigorous campaign against the
spreading OF the disease, and of the
financial part the state must take if
success results.
South Dakota is taxed for the sup
port OF four normal colleges, and at
every session our legislature is called
upon by one or all of those colleges
for appropriations for new buildings,
and equipment. Aside from four
normal colleges, we have state uni
q
school Of mines, reform school, a
school for the blind, school for the
feeble-mipded, and a school for the
deaf mutes. Added to this long list
OF state educational institutions, we
have four sectarian colleges, in college
work equal to our state institutions.
We have several schools doing acade-
mic work and fine system of high
schools, so that in general educa-
tional advantages South Dakota is
we'll provided.
Could not two or three of our
normal colleges be converted into
schools for the education and treat
ment of tubercular school children,
with better returns to our young state
than to continue them as normal
colleges, and with but a small ad-
vance in the cost of maintaining
them?
! am aware that this suggestion will
not strike responsive chord in the
immediate vicinity of normal colleges,
neither will the establishment of more
educational institutions necessitating
large appropriations of the peoples
funds be regarded with favor until the
general public shall have become
thoroughly convinced of the necessity
OF educational institutions of this
nature.
1t must be apparent that the state
OF South Dakota has no use for more
than two normal colleges, and that
the general educational interests of
our state would be improved if we had
fewer colleges to support, with in
creased efficiency Of those remaining.
We have in my own town, Redfield,
the School Of Feeble minded where
those unfortunate people can have a
comfortable home and where children
susceptible to mental development
receive mental training, and it is
interesting to note the Improvements
OF the inmates, both mental and ply
steal; but none OF the inmates will
ever be self-supporting or stable
citizens.
Not so with tubercular children, for
many of them are exceptionally bright
mentally, and for the state to neglect
to provide education and treatment
when experience has taught US that
education, with proper environment
and correct methods of living, essen
tial for the treatment and cure of
tuberculosis, is not only unjust to
tubercular children, but eminently so
to healthy children who have no pre-
disposition or tendency towards this
disease.
South Dakota cannot we'll afford to
be behind her sister states in efforts
to regulate the sources of infection.
Is it not time that the vigorous efforts
OF our profession be made TO educate