The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-04-02
FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS.
Modern Woodmen Society Will Con-
duct Free Sanatorlum For Its
Members-A Business as Well
as a Fraternal PROPOSITION.

The Modern WOodmen of America have en-
listed in the fight against tuberculosis and the
annexed article outlines their plans.
This town is represented by Rising Sun
Camp, No. 1884, with membership of %; s.
j. Terry, Consul; G. S. Nields, Clerk; VIM. l..
Ryan, Banker.
L At the last meeting of the Executive Council
of the Modern Woodmen Society held at the
headquarters of the Society in Rock Island,
Ill, it was decided to conduct that Society 9
sanatorium, located at Colorado Springs, Colo,
for the treatment of members afflicted with
tn berculosis, free of all charge to members.
The Modern Woodmen Society, several
months since, acquired $3.50 acres of land with
in seven miles of Colorado Springs, and has
established thereon an up-to-date sanatorium,
the tent colony plan being employed. The first
colony was opened for the reception of patients
on Jan. l, 1909. 1t is equipped to care for so
patients, to which number admission will be
limited for the present.
The tents are octagonal structures with
single roofs, canvas sides, hard wood floors
on solid cement foundations, heated by a cen
trail plant, equipped with all modern cor
veniences such as telephones, etc., and each
tent will accommodate one patient An ad-
ministration building for physicians, nurses,
dining hall, baths of all kinds etc., stands in
the center of the colony
DR.. ]. E. White, formerly of the Nordrach
ranch sanatorium, the medical director in
charge, states that only those consumptive
members who are durable, or whose lives may
be prolonged for a considerable length of time,
will be admitted as patients. The wisdom of
this rule is apparent. Rigid medical exami-
nation as condition precedent to admission
will be insisted upon in every case, and special
blank forms have been prepared for this pur-
pose.
A movement is already under way to equip
the second colony plant of 60 tents. Each tent
or tent house, 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 1900 local
Camps of Modern Woodmen, and over 600, 900
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 Sana-
torium fund over $4,000, and at the last nat
ional convention permanent tax of ten cents
per member per year was voted to the support
of this work.
The last official Woodmen reports show that
during the years 189l-19O7, inclusive, 145 per
cent OF the total mortality, or 5,156 deaths,
were charged to tuberculosis and that 1879 per
cent of the total insurance losses in those years.
or 50, 065, 900, resulted from this cause. As the
mortality experience of the Woodmen Society
has been unusually favorable, being but 20 per
cent of the expected at all ages under the Ma
tional Fraternal congress table, a death rate of
but $40 per 1000or but 49S per 1000, if the ex-
perience of the first five membership years be
included-the heavier insurance losses infiict-
ed upon other societies experiencing higher
mortality may be conservatively approx
mated.
If the Woodmen Society, with it's exception
ally favorable mortality, finds it to be Good
business to fight consumption in this way,
why should not other fraternal societies, life
insurance companies labor organizations, the
national and internationl church bodies, ETC.,
find it profitable from the viewpoint of bust
ness or benevolence, or both, to take such
action
Each life saved to the Woodmen Society, by
means of this sanatorium, will, it is stated,
represent a saving of sl,70O-the average
amount of the Woodmen policies in force-at
an expense 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 of a useful, self-sustaining
ott