Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-07-14

Darlington, assistant secretary or the as
ISOLATION. author of two publications upon
tuberculosis and hospital sanatorium con-
struction and a recognized authority up
on tuberculosis sanatoria. DIR. Caring
| ton inspected the tuberculosis camp ana
| the hospital and consulted with the tu-
berculosis committee of the Woman's
club and with the hospital authorities.
As a result, DIR. Darlington made the
following recommendations:
First: That the tuberculosis camp be
closed.
| Second: That a pavilion for the hous-
| ing of tuberculous patients be construct
| ed on the grounds of the hospital and
administered as part of that institution
In making these recommendations, Dr.
| Darlington pointed out that there can
be no doubt that the establishment of
/ the camp was very necessary move in
a campaign of education" and cit has
| probably served the purpose for which
it was erected" THE daily cost of main
tanning each patient at the tuberculosis
camp" he says, lis unusually high, and
under the present circumstances $50 few
patients), it will be almost impossible to
reduce it to fairly economical figure"
In advising a pavilion in connection
with the hospital, DR.. Darlington urges
that it include provision for patients in
advanced stages of the disease In the
| beginning of the campaign against tuber-
cuosis in this country, attention was
first given to sanatoria for the cure of
those in the early stages of the disease
because there was more hope of curing
them. This was the natural and the hu
name thing to do; but as the work ad-
vanced 1t became more and more clear
that while this method cured many, it
did not reduce the number to be cured,
and that If progress was to be made in
the elimination of the disease attention
must be turned to that period when the
disease is in its most contagious form.
1t is now believed that If all the ad-
vanced cases could be properly cared
for, tuberculosis would in a short time
completely disappear So, while the hui
name effort to cure those in the early
stages continues, the most progressive
states are striving to provide for the
care of the advanced cases, to offer
them a place where they can be cured if
possible, and where in any event they
can be sure of not injecting others.
For such reasons as these, and be-
cause the state has already provided a
sanatorum for incipent cases. DIR. Car
rington urges that if a pavilion be built
| 1t be of such construction as will pro-
vide for the comfort of bed patients who
cannot stand as much exposure o those
in the early stages.
such a pavilion" the report reads
should be near an electric car line, in
order that patients may be easily visit
| ed by the members of their family and
| their friends. The present camp is
neither well located nor well adapted for
| the housing and treating of advanced
cases. The transportation facilities are
not convenient and without such con-
veniences it has been found almost i'm
possible to hold very sick tubercuous
| patients in hospitals, as they soon be-
| come homesck and insist upon return
| ing to their families. no matter how bad
may be the surroundings from which
! they come.
THE plan suggested is practicable and
has been tried in a number of instances,
and the method of administration found
| to be economical. Your general hospital
| has an ideal site for such a pavilion in
| the grove of apple trees near the west
line of the grounds. pavilion placed
there could have a visitors entrance on
the rear, as this would do away with
the annoyance which might be caused
| by a large number of visitors passing
| the central building.
| II do not know of an instance where
the placing of pavilion for advanced
| cases on the site of a general hospital
| has had a detrimental effect upon the
| parent institution: 1 would suggest in
| case the board of directors approves
| of this plan, that the pavilion be placed
| in charge of one physician instead of
staff, and that someone be selected who
will make special study of diseases of
| the chest"
| The experience of the Woman's club
and the advice of the National associa-
| ton 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 tuberculosis are compare
| lively few, is the time to Danish this
| plague from Brattleboro. To do this eff
! fectively means, according to Dr. Law
renee F. Flick, the noted Philadelphia
specialist:
l. The control of contagion-through
| the registration of all cases, the de-
struction of the broken down tissue
| found in the sputum, intelligent super
vision through a visiting nurse, and such
| material assistance as may be needed
to provide proper food, clothing, and
fresh air for those who cannot afford it,
H. Distinction of all infected places
and things.
III. A campaign of educa tion-in fac
| tories and workshops, but most import
| ant, In the schools-in the value to all
! of proper food, and fresh air as an aid
| in maintaining power of resistance
| against the germs of this and other dis
eases to which we are all exposed
| ~. In order of importance-hospita
| beds for advanced cases, dispensaries for
the detention of incipient cases, and
| sanatoria for the cure of the durable.
The state law requires the registra-
| ton of all cases; but DIR. Hoton reports
| that here, as in other states. the law is
only partially obeyed. 1t is estimated
| that for every death from tuberculosis
| there are six living cases, yet in Yer
| mont 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 a persistent public opinion can
bring about the registration of every
case; and upon registration depends the
| safeguarding of the public through the
instruction and supervision of the fam
| lily of the patient and the disnfection
of infected places. Registration and dis
| Infection are essentially functions OF the
| government, in the exercise of which
the local board of health needs but the
cooperation and the moral support of
| citizens
The campaign of education, so ably
| hNr or 70 hoo ri Of