Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-14
STATE CAPITAL HAS VISITATION
SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY PRE-.
VENTING DISEASE.
PEOPLE FIRST OBJECTED,
NOW CALLS ARE NUMEROUS
Two Trained Nurses Constantly EN-.
ployed to Enforce Sanitary condi-
tions Among the Needy and IlIiterate
Successfully Combating Tubereu.
iosis and Other Diseases.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Oct. l4.-Des Mo!nes has
in successful operation one of the
greatest agencies for the prevention of
tuberculosis il is possible to secure, an
agency Furthermore that combats all
other forms of disease that can be
CON batted with sanitary conditions. as
we'll.
\ visiting nurses association organ
lied by the nurses OF Des Moines and
supported by voluntary contribution OF
the people keeps regularly employed
two graduate nurses who spend their
entire time visiting among the poor and
illiterate Of the city. They are in fact
ministering angels OF the sick and op-
pressed. They spend their time among
tia, class OF people who are unable
financially 70 secure the best medical
attention and who have not been e6iu-
Gated 10 the sanitary ways OF living.
Al first but one nurse was employed
and she found difficulty in getting ac-
cess 70 the homes OF the people A lit
tie later she was admitted but reluc-
family. When the people finally learned
Just What her mission was thsy admit
ted her freely. Then there came re-
quests for her visits till the requests
became so numerous that it was neces-
sary ID employ an additional nurse.
Now both nurses are busy in the work
Of putting sunshine into darkeasi
lives.
While the white plague Of -ube-cu-
backyard leisu-ely waiting his time 10
enter the house and carry off a victim
these nillisoering angels enter the front
door and the advance Of the plague IS
stayed One of these nurses made 49,
visits il. one month recently. She went
into places of poverty and want, She
instructed thara how 20 keep The places
in sanitary condition and stirred
them 20 q desire to do 50. The at.el
ton of both nurses is confined as ia-
as possible % reaching those persons
afflicted or threatened 10 De afflicted
with tuberculosis. The frs. effort Is 70
clean things up. The babies if there
are any are pun thru a tub Of hot water
and soap the greatest sanitary agents
there are and the person afflicted with
tuberculosis is kept away from the
other members OF the family as much
as possible. Every effort IS made to
prevent the spread Of the disease and
70 cure the patient il possible and all
the members of the family are in
structed and impressed with the idea
that unless things are kept clean The
disease will spread To them
L IS frankly admitted by the state
authorities that the problem OF
stamping out tuberculosis is TOO great
for tile.state authorities aloone to han
die. II it IS ever done al all it must be
ing up the work and doing lis share
co-opera ting the while with the STAKE
Il is claimed. however that the
work can be accomplished in one gen
GRAFTON if properly conducted. There
are three main lines in the plans Of
the state board of control in carrying
on the work. One is the building Of
sanatoriurns for durable patients The
other is the building Of hospitals for
the incurable, and the third is the ed
ucation OF the public as 10 sanitary
means Of living Il is claimed that each
county should have both the sanatori-
UNI for the durable and the hospital
for ,he incurable and that every city
should carry on the work Of the visit
ing nurses.
The work Of the state authorities is
confined to the education OF the pub
lie thru state lecturers and by other
means and the naintainence Of a san
atoriurn tha- will he -1nra az a randal
70 the counties than anything else for
the reason ina. the number OF af-
iicted persons is 50 numerous that no