Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-19
State Sanatorium for Cure OF
Tuberculosis Makes Re-
markable Record
lNcIPlENr CASES YIELD EASILY
Needs of Enlarged Facilities Shown
by Annual Report-over 400 Patients
Turned Away Who Were in Ad-
vanced Stages of Disease Treat
ment Better Than Western Climate.
Special to Times Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb 19-The state sana :
torium for the treatment OF tubercu-
losis located at Oakdale, near Iowa City
was opeped to patients on Feb. l. 1908.
For the year just ended, 2S6 patients
have been admitted. having reached its
capacity in November with an average
of seventy seven patients. During the
away as too far advanced to be re-
.ceiyed OF the total number accepted
|lonly thirty three, or IA per cent,
proved to be incipient or early cases.
and Of his class so per cent, who re-
mained over two months, were sent
home apparently cured.
The sanatorium was built ana
equipped for the treatment of incipient
cases only, but while room was avail
able the more favorable of the adj
vanced eases were accepted on trial for
Treatment OF these 90 per cent who re-
manned two months showed marked
Improvement. Such gratifying results
justify making provision for the treat
ment of this class of patients.
Attacks the Young.
The statement that tuberculosis
strikes down those of greatest value TO
society is abundantly proven by the
fact that of the 236 admitted for treat
ment 106. or nearly SO per cent. were
So "a yx.n,.
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. wittv corresponding improve
ment in their lungs.
SO accustomed have people become
to lock upon the west as the only place
where lung trouble can be successfully
that it is with difficulty
they can be convinced that this is put
another popular fallacy which medical
science long since exploded. AS an In
cidert in point the experience of some
who have left the sanatorium and gone
west might be cited.
DO Not Go West.
Three patients who have gone west,
thus write after several months So
journ that they have not done so well
there One, "a physician from the
southern part of the state, after tive,I
in Colorado, writes: Tell The
patients in the sanatorium they are
better off there than here" To many
4 "a Not 10
sumption can be cured at all. To many |
others it is 4 greater revelation that
It can be successfully treated without |
severing the friendships and associa- /
ions of a lifetime and migrating to |
some far off land where hope lends
aith to the fancy that by some phen-
,menon of nature relief may be OBJ |
aimed without regard to the rules laid
Town by medical science.
The sanatorium is effecting cures 1t
S doing more. 1t is educating the pep-
lie of Iowa to the necessities of the
york undertaken and pointing the way
O what is certain in time to result in
1t least a partial eradication of the
,reat white plague. It is disseminating
knowledge Of sanitation which will
ninimize infection and remove the
ecessity for treatment on so broad
Gale.
More Room is Needed.
Two facts stand out in bold relief as
the necessity of charging
he sanatorium equipment AS stated
bove, so per cent of the incipient cases
reated were sent away apparently
ured, while more than 400 have been
enied admission because too far adj
anced. It requires but a single mathe-
1atical deduction to make clear how
lany of the latter might have been
ured had earlier provision been made
or their treatment.
From now on it will not be wholly
matter Of rejecting advanced cases.
he sanatoriurn Is full and unless en-
urged many patients who might be
treated must be kept on
ne waiting list while every week
overy. Without means many are un-
Bile to look for treatment elsewhere.
lore than half Of the patients treated
uring the past year were supported
y the state. Their only avenue to
ealth is thru the. sanatorium.
The legislature has been asked to
funds to enlarge the scope
f this institution. The appropriation
sked for will not make it possible TO
rovide for all applicants but it will
clip. In preparing the budget the SUI i
has endeavored to econo- !
1ize to the last degree in every direc-