Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-03-04
DOING GOOD WORK
oAkDALE SANAToRluM MAKES
EXCELLENT SHOWING.
EIGHTY PER CENT SHOW GAIN
Many Cases Turned Away on Account
Of Lack Of Facilities
for Their Care.

Des Moines-In an effort to cur.
tail the exodus of hundreds of citi.
Zens to western states and afford re.
lief to those whose financial condition
renders effective treatment here or
elsewhere impossible, the Iowa state
legislature, three years ago decided
to provide an institution for the treat
ment of tuberculosis
The State Sanatorium located at
Oakdale was opened to patients on
February 1, 1908 For the year just
ended, two hundred and thirty-six pa
tients have been admitted, having
reached its capacity in November
with an average of seventyseven pa
tients. 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 proved to be incipient or
early cases, and of this class eighty
per cent who remained over two
months, were sent home apparently
cured.
The sanatorium was built and
equipped for the treatment of incipi-
ent cases only, but while room was
available the more favorable of ad-
vanced cases were accepted. 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.
People all over the state have been
astonished at many Of the remark
able 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 i'm
provement in their lungs.
The sanatorium is effecting cures.
1t is doing more. 1t is educating the
people of Iowa to the necessities Of
the work undertaken and pointing the
way to what is certain in time to re-
suit in at least partial eradication
of the Great White Plague. 1t is dis
seminating a knowledge of sanitation
which will minimize infection and re-
move the necessity for treatment on
so broad a scale.
Two facts stand out in bold relief
as emphasizing the necessity of en-
larging the sanatorium equipment. AS
stated above, eighty per cent of the
lncipient cases treated were sent
away apparently cured, while more
hpy hr- tod
admission because too far advanced.
From now on it will not be wholly
a matter of rejecting advanced cases.
The sanatorium is full and unless en-
larged many patients who might be
successfully treated must be kept on
makes more remote their chance of
recovery. Without means many are
unable to look for treatment else
where. More than half of the pa
tients treated during the past year
were supported by the state.
The legislature has been asked to
appropriate funds to enlarge the scope
of this institution. The appropriation
asked for will not make it possible
to provide ;or all applicants but II
will help. In preparing the budget
the superintendent has endeavored
to economic to the last degree in
every direction. 1t is simply queS
tion of whether means shall be pro
vided for more effective treatment
and the accommodation Of a larger
number of AFFECTED persons who de
sire admission to the sanatorium, OF
whether the work shall be confined
to it's present limitations, which in
extent has already proven entirely
inadequate.