Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-23
THE TROUBLE AT 0AKDpLE.

TIE TROUBLE AT 0AKDpLE.
The trouble that has arisen in con-
nection with the state hospital for the
treatment of tuberculosis seems to be
one that may be easily settled and to
the satisfaction of the people. Nothing
that has been Instituted in late years
has met more approval from the peo-
pie who pay the bills than the camp
for eonsumptives. The state realizes
that it is needed and is beginning to
understand how great its mission and
how valuable it may become TO the
afflicted and 20 the healthy who are in
the forever present danger of infec-
ton.
Some complaint coming from pa
tents as to the food has filtered its
way into this office and been dis
missed as the natural complaint of
the sick and nervous and the result of
weakened functions. But with these
complaints have come none against
do the best he can under the cir
cumstances. 1t is stated by some of
the patients that one cook must pre-
pare food for 100 people: that butter
and eggs are hard TO obtain fresh
from the farms because the producers
are not apparently anxious to supply
the institution at the prices offered by
the state. So far no actually Sc
rious complaint has come to this news
which complaint is made could be rec
tilted and made straight easily and
quickly.
Now let us understand one thing
thoroughly and let the board of con-
troll listen: the people of Iowa desire
and insist that no cheese pairing shall
be INDUCED in that shall limit the use
fulness Of the sanatorium It is not
a question of a few dollars but of the
disease. This is not charity institu-
ton at Iowa City but a hospital. State
institutions are not charity institu-
tons, they belong TO the state for the
use and protection of it's people. The
tuberculosis sanatorium is the effort
of the stare 10 curb and cure wide
spread and fatal disease. It needs and
should have the best that money can
buy 10 assist ii in its work. It should
be as carefully managed and checked
up as any other institution but it
should not be limited as to the things
needed and necessary in its battle
against disease. Il should have
scientific medical superintendent and
ii should have business man and
these should work together. 1t should
not be permitted TO spend money use
lessy but it should be given all 1t
needs TO make good with against
tuberculosis. Food is one of the desid-
eratums of the treatment 1t should
have cooks enough to prepare and
money enough to buy. When c. A.
Noble, editor of the Belle PLANE In
ion, himself the third patient to enter
the institution. asserts in public print
that he has seen the superintendent
denied the diet his patients needed and
almost driven to distraction trying to
get food properly prepared by an in
competent COOK it is pretty good evil
dence. especially when corroborated by
others. that things are not as they
. should be at the sanatorium.
!, The board Of control is most ex.
cellent body and Mr.. Cownie is an ex-
{ tremely valuable man as one Of its
, members; but none Of them are med.
| zeal men or experts in the new treat.
ment of consumption. Here is ont
i place where Mr. Cownie's s!,re"a hns.
, mess buying may interfere with re-
: suits and interfere seriously. These ar,
t sick people down at Oakdale, danger
T ously sick people, each with peculfa
e types and phases of disease abou
. which the board Of control know
5 about as much as the rest of us AM
: no more We should scarcely turl
K over to Mr. Cownie the purchase o
a supplies and instruments Of an arcti
o expedition. There is much less reasol
= and more danger in giving any ordin
s airy layman complete control over tn
Isanatorium at Oakdale.
v And moreover there is no occasio
It for great fuss about Oakdale. TIL
4 farmers are not anxious that penuri
8 Gus policy be put in operation Their,
h On the contrary they are as anxiou
II to see results and as willing to pa
d for them as any other class OF low
n Taxpayers. The thing to do is to Civ
+ the hospital what 1t needs, to tru!
le medical science to call for what
II needed and put some practical man :
N oakdale as general overseer outside {