Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-07
TUBERCULOSIS WILL
BE TREATED FREE
MODERN WooDMEN ESTABLISH
SANAToRIUM
All Members of Order to Be Admitted
Free-Tent Colony Plan Used.
First One Opened

At recent meeting of the executive
council of the Modern Woodmen soci-
ETY., held at the headquarters of the
society in Rock Island, ILL.,. it was de-
cided to conduct that society's sanato-
rum, located at Colorado Springs,
Colo, for the treatment of members af-
f1icted with tuberculosis, free of all
charge to members.
The Modern Woodmen society, sew
eral months since, acquired 1880 acres
of land within seven miles of Colorado
Springs, and established thereon an
up-tO-date sanatorium, the tent colony
plan being employed. The first colony
plan was ready for the reception of pa
tlentS January 1, and is equipped to
care for sixty patients, to which num-
ber admission must be limited for the
present time.
The tents are octagonaI structures,
with Shingle roofs, canvas Sides hard
wood floors on solid cement founda-
tionS, heated by a central plant, equip
ped with all modern conveniences, such
as telephones, etc., and each tent will
accommodate one patient. An admin
istratiOn building for physicians,
nurses, dining hall, baths of all kinds,
ETC., stands in the center of the colony.
DR.. ]. E. White, formerly of the
NorGrach ranch sanatOrium, the medi-
cal director in charge, states that only
lHOSG COIlSuIllpIlN0 UlSIuUSIS WHO are
durable, or whose lives may be pro-
longed for a considerable length of
time, will be admitted as patients. The
wisdom of this rule is apparent. Rigid
medical examination as a condition
precedent to admission will be insisted
upon in every case, and special blank
forms have been prepared for this pur
pose.
1t is expected that another colony of
sixty tents will be ready by July, 1909,
and that acceptable patients will be
ready to occupy it in full by that time.
A movement is already under way to
equip the second colony plant. Each
tent, completely equipped, represents
an expense of $3.50, and a number of
local camps, or lodges, of the society
have decided to donate tents. AS there
are over $4,000 local camrS of Modern
Woodmen, and over 100000 members,
it is anticipated that several colonies
will soon be equipped in this way.
The members and local camps of the
society have voluntarily contributed to
the sanatorium fund over $4,000, and
at the last national convention a per-
manent tax of 10 cents per member was
voted to the support Of this work.
The last official Woodmen reports
show that during the years 1S91-1907,
inclusive, 14.5 per cent of the total
mortality, or 5156 deaths, were charged
to tuberculosis, and that 1873 per cent
Of the total insurance losses in those
years, or $9,065, 900, resulted from this
cause. AS the mortality experience Of
the Modern Woodmen society has been
remarkably favorable, being but 20 per
cent of the expected at all ages under
the National Fraternal congress table,
a death rate of but 6.29 per 1000-or but
4.98 per 1000, if the experience of the
first five membership years be included
L.,
f1icted upon other societies experience
ing a higher mortality may be con-
Servatively approXimated.
Which prompts this question: If the
Woodmen society, with its exception
ally favorable mortality, finds it to be
"good business" as well as good fra
ternalism, to fight consumption in this
way. why should not other fraternal
societies, life insurance companies, Ia
Dor organizations. the national and in
ternational church bodies, ETC., find it
profitable, from the viewpoint of busi-
ness or beneVolence, or both, to take
such action?
Each life saved to the Woodmen So
ciety, by means of this sanatorium.
will it is stated, represent a saving Of
$17O0-the average amount of the
Woodmen policies in force-at an eX-
pense for treatment of approximately
one-twentieth of that sum. In the
broader sense, each life saved means
the preservation to the family of its
head and bread winner and to the state
a useful, self-sustaining citizen.