The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-07-14

cases could be properly Va'" 'Sl ,IataI,
culosis would in a, short time comp'e , !.
disappear So, while the humane en1at ',a y
cure those in the early stages continue
The most progressive states are striving u
provide for the care OF the advanced case
10 offer them place where they can "
cured IL possible. and where IN any event
they can be sure of not injecting others,
For such reasons as these, ana becaus'
the state has already provided a sanalo
rum for incipient eases, DIR. harrington
urges that il a pavilion be built u be Q
such construction as will provide ior th'
comfort OF bed patients who cannot stane
as much exposure as those IN the cary
stages. IA.
Such pavilion" the report reads
SHOULD be near an electric car lne' w 1l
der that patients may be easily visited pl
the members OF their family ana tnei
friends The present camp Is neither WEI
located nor well adapted for the housiht
and treating OF advanced tnbercuiou,
cases. The transportation facilities are MOI
convenient and without such convenience,
il has been found almost impossible TO hold
very sick tuberculous patients IN hospitals
as theys soon become homesick and lnsls'
upon returning 10 their families, no matter
how bad may be the surroundings IRON
which they have come.
"The plan suggested is practicable and
has been tried IN a number OF instances
and the method of administration found 70
be economical. Your general hospital has
an ideal site for such pavilion m the
grove of apple trees near the west line oil
the grounds. A pavilion placed there
could have a visitors entrance on the rear
as this would do away with the annoy
ance which might be caused by large
number of visitors passing the central
| building.
II do not know of an instance where the
placing OF a pavilion for advanced cases on
| the site Of general hospital has had a
detrimental effect upon the parent instltu.
/ ton | would suggest in case the board OF
| directors approves OF this plan, that the
pavilion be placed in charge OF one phFsl'
clan instead of staff, and that someone
be selected who will make a special study
of diseases of the chest"
The experience Of the Woman.s club and
the advice OF the National association is
put before the public at this time with the
hope of arousing interest and discussion
prior TO a final disposition Of this vital
concern of the public Now, before the
town grows large and while the cases of tn.
berculosis are comparatively few, is the
time TO Danish this plague from Brattle'
boro. To do this effectively means, accord
ing to DIR. Lawrence i. Flick, the noted
Philadelphia specialist
]. The control OF contagion, through
the registration of all cases, the destrue.
ton of the broken down tissue found in
the sputum, intelligent supervision through
a visiting nurse, and such material assist
ance as may be needed TO provide proper
food, clothing. and fresh air for those who
cannot afford it,
. Distinction of all infected places
and things.
3. A campaign of education-in factor
les and workshops, but, most important,
in the schools-in the value to all of proper
food, and fresh air as an aid in maintain
ing power of resistance against the germs
of this and other diseases to which we are
all exposed
T. In order of mportanee,-hospita
beds for advanced cases, dlspensaries for
the detection of incipient cases, and sana.
toria for the cure of the curable
The state law requires the registration OF
all cases; but DIR. Holton reports that here,
as in other states, the law is only partially
obeyed. II is estimated that for every
death from tuberculosis there are six living
cases yet in Vermont there are each year
many more deaths than cases registered. In
New York state, the most thoroughly edu.
Gated IN the nature OF tuberculosis of all the
states, experts say there are one-third more
cases than are registered Only persist.
ent public opinion can bring about the reg
lstratlon of every case; and upon registra-
tion depends the safeguarding of the pub
lie through the instruction and supervision
OF the family Of the patient and the disin-
lection OF infected places, Registration and |
are essentially functions of the /
government, in the exercise of which the /
local, board OF health needs but the COOP /
Grafton and the moral support OF citizens. 7
The campaign OF education, so ably be. I
gun by our state board of health, needs |
local emphasis and extension, and here or.
ganized private effort finds its chief oppor. I
tunity.
Hospital or sanatorium care for tubercu. 7
lous patients is generally recognized as
governmental function, but in nearly every
state 1t has to be led or supplemented by |
private organization. State care for incipi-
emit cases and local care for advanced cases
is the division beginning to be generally
accepted. The state of Vermont has acted
upon this line, and it remains for Brattle.
boro to provide for the care of those who
should remain near home. How this shall
be done is the question herewith proposed
II Is impossible TO know the exact nun.
Der OF cases of tuberculosis in the town at
this moment In the two years that the
Womans club has given the matter con,
'ideraton, 81 cases have come to their at.
enton. Ten deaths from tuberculosis
we're recorded during the past wear. and
his, according to the most conservative
sstlmates means that there were 80 living
'ases. How many of these will die: how
many of them will live to infect others:
whether the disease shall be checked and
inally eliminated, or allowed to run its
curse of devastation for an ever increas.
ng number of our fellow townspeople. it is
or the citizens Of Brattleboro to decide
In committing this trust to the town. the
tuberculosis committee of the Woman's
lub wishes to thank all those who have
ven time, money, or moral support to its
undertaking.; to urge the townspeople TO
mite against this common enemy, and to
xpress the conviction that such united s
ctlon, II prompt and persistent, can in a
eecade free the town Of this most terrible
t our diseases.