The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-02
VERMONT ANp ruBERcuLosIs.

tAAf-HA@+fN 1880 a
VA. Eddy, patient at the Vermont
sanitarinm, is moved by reading an edi-
torial on sThe Crusade Against Tubercu-
losis" in one OF the state papers, to
write to the Rutland Herald. Mr., Eddy
Says
1.-The panegyric was most finely writ
ten, its egotistieal strain was everywhere
predominant. That it might be true
that Vermont might be really in the van
in the anti-tnbereulosis campaign was
the desire nearest the writer's heart.
''HoSever, let us turn from the article
and examine the facts Of the case Is
Vermont truly in the lead in the fight
against tuberculosist Are we doing an
that is necessary, or even possible toward
the eradication Of this dread diseased
Through the generosity Of the late
Redfeld Proctor a sanitarium for the
treatment Of tuberculosis was opened in
December, 1907, at Pittsford. This sani-
tarinm has accommodations for between
80 and 40 patients II is a private I'M
stitutioni Il Ii the Vermont sanitarium
in name only, being in nowise under state
jurisdiction; II IS, instead, under the
control and direction Of self perpetu-
ating board Of trustees. The state has
absolutely no voice in its management,
has nothing. whatsoever, to say as to
who shall or shall not be admitted.
BY means oil an endowment fund,
also provided BY Senator Proctor, and the
income FROM patients, the institution II
able to put 80 or 40 beds at the service
Of tuberculosis patients. Toward the
maintenance Of these beds the state pays
not copper Not a single bed endowed
BY the state Not a penny's aid to a
single patient herel And, yet, Vermont,
according to that very fine editorial.
stands ia the very trout ranks u the
anti-tubereulosis campaigners TO think
that we should thus try tn build 4 state
reputation upon private benevolenee,
Now. Ter the cursory comparison Of
this states work along these lines with
that Of few other states. Maryland is
eNpending S275.000 for new state sani
tarium which viii accommodate $50 pa,
tients at the nominal cost Of 80 cents
per day. There are six other sanataria,
all Of which are supported by state, mu.
nicipal and private charity
'sIhe Pennsylvania state South Noun. I
tain Sanitafium' was made possible by
an appropriation Of 100000 BY the leg |
islature Of 1907 This sanitarium Is for
citizens Of Pennsylvania suffering from
pulmonary tuberculosis and unable fiuan-
cially TO 60 to private sanatoria There |
are accommodations for $50 patients and |
the only charge II for laundry. Without |
including the Philadelphia General hos
pitst which furnishes 500 beds for tuber I
cular patients. ALL Of which are free, /
and the White Haven Free Hospital for 1
Poor Consumptives, which has a capacity /
of 200 there are in the state Of Penn I
sylvania about 700 other beds at the SER
vice Of persons suffering FROM tnbercu-
losis
Massachusetts Il also in the anti tn I
hercnlosis campaign The Massachusetts
state sanitarium at Rutland aee0mmo.
dates $50 patients. The legislature Of /
1907 provided for the appointment Of a
commission Of nine who should purchase
sites approve plans, make contracts, Sc
iect superintendent, and supervise the
construction Of three sanatoria for tuber-
culosis patients, each sanitaTium to have
accommodations for not less than 100
PATIENTS Besides THE sanatoria already
mentioned there are in Massachusetts,
over % Others giving service to hundreds
Of patients
New York with its 80 and more sana-
toria, many Of which are primarily for
the benefit Of INDECENT sufferers. needs no
comparison with Vermonts scantv provi Il
sions for our INDECENT tuberculosis pa
tients
For anyone ID say that Vermont
stands il the van Of the anti-tnhpreulosis
army, would seem to show either & preiu-
diced point Of view or lack Of accurate
information. To Be exact Vermont. as
q state, stands SO far back in the process
sion that those in front cannot Be seen.
and thus the road seems clear. With
only e state beds. in ans manner what
soever 81 the disposal Of tuberculosis pa
tientsand those q beds III III insane
asylum. Vermont should rather hang her
head III shame, than 10 be spoutinp ego
tlstical panegyrics through the editorial
columns Of one Of her leading newspa-
pers.
That there Is an ever Increasing need
Of more accommodations for tuberculosis
patients u this state needs 40 proof
This il strong Indictment against III.
but il Is 4 good thing u b told II our
fittings once IN a while But If Brr.
Eady's letter win help to increase the
efforts against this dread disease. 1t win
have served $ good purpose