The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-02-25
80 PER CENT CURED.
That is the Apparent Result of the
First Years Work at State
tuberculosis Sdndtorium.

tuberculosis Sanatorium.
The press bureau of the board of
state control of state institutions, de-
partment of tuberculosis, has issued the
following statement in regard to what
has been accomplished during the first
year of the state sanatorium for tuber-
culosis patients at Oakdale, near Iowa
City. At least one patient from Deca-
tur county was an inmate of the sana-
forum during the past year, and we
are pleased to state that she was dis
charged as cured. 1t is certainly a
worthy effort to stamp out the great
white plague, and one which is being
heartily commended by all:
In an effort to curtail the annual eX-
odus of hundreds Of citizens to western
states and to afford relief to those
whose financial condition renders eff
fective treatment here or elsewhere i'm
possible, the Iowa State Legislature,
three years ago decided to provide an
institution for the treatment of tuber-
culosis.
The State Sanatorium located at Oak
dale, near Iowa City, was opened to
patients on February 1, 1908. For the
year just ended, two hundred and
thirty-six patients have been admitted
having reached it's capacity in Novem-
Der with an average of seventy-seven
patients. During the year more than
four hundred have been turned away as
too far advanced to be received. OF the
total number accepted only thirty three,
or fourteen per cent. proved to be incipi-
ent or early cases, and of this class
eighty per cent. who remained over two
months were sent home apparently cured.
The sanitOrium was built and equip
ped for the treatment of incipient cases
only, but while room was available the
more favorable of the advanced cases
were accepted on trial for treatment.
OF these ninety per cent. who remained
two months showed marked improve
ment. Such gratifying results justify
making provision for the treatment Of
this class of patients.
The statement that tuberculosis
strikes down those of greatest value to
society is abundantly proven by the fact
that of the two hundred and thirty-six
admitted for treatment one hundred and
SIX, or nearly fifty per cent. were be-
tween the ages Of twenty and thirty
years. While generous appropriations
are being made each year for the sup
port of education how much more i'm
portant it is that equally liberal expen-
diture to be approved by the state for
the eradication of a disease which is
levying it's toll of death annually upon
hundreds of young citizens just as they
are prepared to enter the most produce
tive period of life.
| People all over the state have been
astonished at many of the remarkable
results observed in friends who have
been patients at Oakdale. This will be
readily understood from the fact that
many have returned home who have
gained from twenty five to forty pounds,
with corresponding Improvement 10
their lungs.
So accustomed have people become
to look upon the west as the only place
where lung trouble can be successfully
combatted that it is with difficulty they
can be convinc. d that this is but an
other popular falacy which medical
science long since exploded. AS an in
cident in point the experience of some
who have left the sanatorium and gone
west might be cited.
Three patients who have done this
write AT CIR several months sojourn in
the west that they have not done so
wit nre. One, a physician from the
southern part Of the state, after five
m"nths in Colorado writes, Tell the
patients in the sanator,um they are
better Off there than here" To many
Iowa people it is revelation that
consumption can be cured at ALL To
many others it is a greater revelation
that it can be successfully treated with
ont severing the friendships and asso-
Citations of lifetime and migrating to
some far off land where hope lends faith
to the fancy that by some phenomenon
of nature relief may be obtained with
out regard to the rules laid down by
medical science.
The sanatorium is effecting cures.
1t is doing more. 1t is educating the
people of iowa to the necessities of the
We RI undertaken and pointing the way
to what is certain in time to result in at
least a partial eradication of the Great
White Plague. 1t is discriminating a
knowledge of sanitation which will
minimize infection and remove the
necessity for treatment on so broad a
scale.
Two facts stand out in bold relief as
emphasizing the necessity of charging
above, eighty per cent of the incipient
cases treated were sent away apparent
ly cured, while more than four hundred
have bee II denied admission because too
far advanced. 1t requires but a single |
deduction to make clear
how many of the latter might have
been cured had earlier provision been
M sdt for their eatmcnt.
What are these Young lives worth? [
What are the lives Of hundreds OF others
who are travelling the same pitiful path
to the grave worth? Will the great |
state of Iowa continue longer to wit
ness with Indifference this shocking
harvest of death or will her legislature
arise to the necessities of the case and
broaden the scope of the only known
method of treatment, the sanatorium,
until all may be cared for?
From now on it will not be wholly
matter of rejecting advanced cases.
The sana forum is full and unless en-
larred MANY patianfs uho uirht no