The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-05-04
american News Service,

N<ALbCElC&n CNSW6 00IVICSI
Washington, May 4.-Colonization
of consumptives in the Southwest was
the scheme advocated by DR.. A. M.
Forster In a paper presented today
before the sociological section of the
National Association for the Study
and Prevention of tuberculosis on
the best kind of employment for tu-
bersulosis cases, who. when discharg-
ed from hospitals and sanatoria re-
lapse into their former condition be-
cause Of bad environment.
DIR. Forster demonstrated that the
present machinery In the anti-tuber-
culosis campaign was inadequate and
that 1t did not provide for the tuber-
culOsis sufferer at the most critical
time In his existence-when he left
the sanatorium or hospital: In view
Of this fact. he advocated that institu-
tions in which tuberculosis cases were
treated should be equipped with large
farms upon which the convalescent
consumptives might learn the rudi-
ments Of agriculture. He stated that
In his opinion farming was the most
0uklAUl0 WVlA tA0k . Cu1 GU OOAA0uAAP-
tive could attempt. After the tuber-
culous individual has learned how to
farm, opportunity should be given to
him to carry. on this occupation with
the least possible amount OF worry
and strain. DR. Forster therefore adj
vocated that large colonies Of con-
sumptives gathered from sanatoria In
all parts Of the United States should
be formed In the southwest on land
which could be irrigated with compar-
atively little expense. and that here
they should live and work for the rest
of their lives. This would not only
help to solve the problem of conges-
tion in the city. but would materially
lengthen the lives of many consump-
their former condition within COM
paratively short time after their re-
turn to the congested city life.
DIR. Forster demonstrated from his
experience at the Eudowood Sapator-
ium in Maryland, Of which he was
formerly superintendent, that farm
colony conducted by an institution OF
this sort could be made absolutely
self-supporting and could be conduct
ed In such manner that It might pro-
duce q substantial revenue. Likewise
he contended that farm colonies of
tuberculosis graduates" Of sanataria
could be conducted so that they would
offer ample support to those who were
running them.
Or. Forster's Paper.
DIR. C. p. wertenbaker, medical Of
ficer In command Of the United States
Public Health and Marine Hospital
Service Of Norfolk, Va. advocated the
establishment OF farm sanatoria by ev-
cry city, town and village In the Unit
ed States. He demonstrated by fig
ures that such institutions, conducted
in cooperation with the state agricul-
stural departments could be conducted
on an absolutely selfsupporting basis,
with no cost to the community except
that Of establishment. In addition to
this, the farm sanatorium would az
ford to the consumptive both q cure
for his disease and an opportunity to
learn q new occupation in which he
might earn his livelihood.
DIR. w. ]. yogeler, attending physi-
clan q the Sprain Ridge Sanatorium
at Y0nkers. N. T.. brought out the fol-
lowing points In his discussion:
'sYonkers Is essentially . factory
town. Our patients coming In great
part from the working class must nee
.essarily return to some kind OF work,
when they leave Sprsin Ridge, to earn
q living for themselves and family.
We have attempted from the begin
ming to get them Ia good condition to
return to work by graduated exerci-
ses and the like. The majority have
returned to the factories and 0ocupa-
tons they were accustomed to when
they first came to M. Some at first
were advised to obtain outside occu-
patton, such AS conductors. trolleymen
and caddies. We have found. howev-
er, that almost MI Of those who -
turned to their old occupat1on. under