Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-05-21
The States Battle AQainSt Tuber-
culoSis.

The dedication of the State Sanatorium
near Sabilasville on Saturday last was the
formal recognition by Maryland of the be-
ginning of a great and beneficent work.
DR.. H. M. King, superintendent of SINH
lar institution in the State of New York,
who took part in the dedication exercises,
seemed much impressed not only with the
merit of the State Sanatorium, which he
pronounced the best in the whole land, but
in the public interest in the warfare on
tuberculosis manifested by the presence of
so large and enlightened a company. That
the building of the sanatOrium. 1t was the
work of the medical profession of the
State to arose the people to sense of the
serious nature of the disease and the ex-
tent of its ravages. increasing in an ever
widening circle. To those who listened to
the speeches at the dedication it could not
have been otherwise than gratifying to
hear Dr. Thayer. DIR. King and DIR. Fulton
declare that Maryland is in the forefront
of the battle against consumption and has
now, thanks to the earnest and unselfish
work of small body of philosophical
citizens, the best State sanatorium in the
land.
There are at this time nearly 100 pa
tients in the institution. and the number
will be increased soon to 200. These will
all be cases in the early stages and cura-
ble Senator Smith, the president of the
commission, declared in his interesting adj
dress that the recovery of the patients
will be a small part only of the benefits
which the institution will confer on the
State. The recovered patients. or 'gradu-
ates," as the Senator called them, will be
educators, going in and out among the
people and teaching others how to protect
themselves.
The act of Assembly creating this insti
tuition confers upon the managers the wild
est authority. They have deemed it best,
in the exercise of their authority, to limit
the patients to those who can be cured.
They do not wish to retard recovery by the
spectacle of death. 1t has also been deem
ed proper to make a charge for those who
are able to pay. But Senator Smith an
nOunced that none who ought to be admit
ted will be excluded while there is room
for them. Unquestionably, those who are
far advanced in the malady should also
be removed to retreat of this kind, be-
cause of humane considerations as well as
to prevent infection. and it is to be hoped
that it will not be long before the State
will make provision for this class.
The location of the State Sanatorium is
ideal 1t is near the summit of South
Mountain, surrounded by fine forests and
overlooking a valley of supreme beauty.
from every contamination. There is an
inexhaustible supply of pure water and the
surrounding country produces abundantly
the food that is needed. The buildings are
patterned according to the very best at
tainable plans and have already become a
standard adopted in other States. Added
to all these is accessibility. While the inn
mediate locality on the mountain is thinly
populated. South Mountain divides two of
the most populous counties in Maryland
and is within two hours of Baltimore.
The speeches at the ceremonies Saturday
were interesting as well as Instructive
The Governor accepted the building for the
State in appropriate terms In his remarks
Senator Smith, the president of the com
mission, gave generous credit to the physi
clans who engaged in founding the inst-
tuition. But he said little of the part he him
self had in the noble work. 1t was, in fact,
he, as Governor, who appointed the first
tuberculosis Commission. and it was large
ly by his personal solicitation among the
members of the Legislature that the bill
was passed. In all the subsequent work
Mr. Samuel X. Dennis, member of the
commission and its secretary and treas
urer. has been active and most efficient.