Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-08-26
The Fight on tuberculosis

l
The State Sanitarium for the treat
ment of incipient cases of tuberculo-
sis has now been in operation six
months having been opened for the
reception of patients February 1,
I19OS. The rapidity with which the
beds are being filled shows clearly
the need of just such an institution
More than this the number of appli-
cants that have been refused admit
tance as not coming under the elassi-
fication 'incipient" points to the vi.
tai Importance of establishing hospi-
tails for the care of advanced cas-
es. Up to the first of July, 1O5 pa
tients had been received for treat
ment. while for the same period of
time, over two hundred were turned
away. *
The aim of the Sanitarium is
threefold: first, it takes the un-
I:instructed tuberculosis patient from
amongst friends to. whom he may
unwittingly be menace and places
him in group of people, afflicted in
like Manner. who are being disci-
plined and taught the fundamental
principles of. the "open-air" treat
ment. Second, it gives the poor tub
ferculosis patient the opportunity of
receiving proper care and treatment.
/ Third, it seems to cure the patient,
thus giving back, to the state a life
restored to it's working capacity.
The person suffering from tubercu-
losis, who is unaware that the di-
-seasef has fastened itself upon him
may. be throwing from his lungs.
quite unsuspectingly, millions of
death dealing" germs. II he is
fortunate enough to learn tthe ma
l.ture OF! his malady before it has be-
come advanced he has the opportunity
of retiring to the Sanatorium with a
reasonable hope of cure, thus sparing
himself years of suffering and inval-
idism, and better still lessening the
danger of infection to those about
him.
In his; ;sojourn at the sanatorlum he
learns facts concerning his disease
important to him as. an individual
and. as one Of a community. Most
deeply and presistently impressed on
his mind are the now we'll known
truths-thats tuberculosis is. caused
dY. specific germ and that it is
by specific germ and that it is
transferred 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 miifmum by the burning
Of sputnm in its noist and harmless
state and sterilk ling any or every
thing suspected Iof containing tuber-
Ecuiosis matter. or almost, equal
importance with aKnowieuse= the
disease lis ;'ths factor courage" in
the. struggle tosovercome the disease.
The desire for the comforts Of life
and all outside interests must be sec
ondary if he would effect cure.
II requires a 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 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 the work.
The germ thrives and multiplies In
damp yitiated air, hence the need for
maximum of pure, dry air, next the
;nourishing food and the rest increase
the resistance in the body to the pol
Iea3v 'uels6s Qua oluI uMoIqa suos
six or eight 7 months at the. sana-
Etorium with disease apparently arrest
ed, returns home no longer a menace
rather a missionary bearing the gos-
pei of sunlight, fresh air and clean
Illness and the blessed tidings OF hope
to the. consumptive.
/ With this institution now in oper-
alton a chance is offered to the poor
consumptive. Formerly. even tho the
the disease were discovered in its
early stage, no alternative was open
to- such an one. He worked un;
It'll death with bony finger beckoned
Thin to repose. Where means are
lacking they are not required and
he is given every care and attention
that will help him on the road to re-
.covery.
| The fact that this disease lays holt
on men and women in their prime
lin great majority Of cases, 1us'
just when the earning capacity j.
| the greatest means an immense fl
nancial loss to the state. So tina
from "a, material point of view, the
Sanatorium's is an investment who's
dividend may be represented by mel
and women restored to wage earn
ing power. :
In conclusion then the state San
atorium benefits the individual, tn
public and the state itself and TIM
only is necessary to demonstrate tn
fact that it is an effective weapon