The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-25

of s40,0o0 had been appropriated, to- gether with maintenance fund of $10- 900 per annum. It is further stated that the real estate owners on Shades mountain were opposed to the location of the state sanatorium on that noun tain, and therefore it was probable that it would be put on Lookout mountain near Gadsden. I do not lnow how all these details may be, but all'I have to say on the subject is this: The sum of s10,000 per annum, if all physicians and officers will give their services free would be about sufficient to feed and care for 25 or 30 patients annually Inasmuch as there are estimated to be 5000 or 5000 persons in Jefferson coun- ty alone suffering with tuberculosis ii can be seen that the state appropria tion is barely sufficient to care for one | person out of two counties in the sta to
 and that, therefore, 1t is a mere dron l in hte ocean compared to what Is neces- sary if this disease is to be Intelligent | ly combatted.
 "The local camp. which takes care of 20 to 25 persons on the average has an expenditure of between $500 and s700 per month, and there are many things which we ought to do but which we are unable to do for the lack of funds. And it must be noted that no physician
 
 the payroll. If we are to make real headway against this disease very much more must be done than has ever been done in fhe past We have now q waiting list Of 40 indigent persons seek ing admission. We have to turn these
 people away or postpone them until possibly 1t Is too late simply for the lack of food and shelter. These are persons who have actually applied for admission. and there are hundreds might add thousands-in this county who ought not only for their own sakes, but for the sake of the public whose health is endangered every day while they are travelling the streets, who should be required to take some hospital treatment
 "I am advised that the state health department has stated that the num- Der of reported deaths from tuberculosis in Ala bama in the year 1910 were 1892 It is further added that there are many counties which do not make reports at all, and other counties which make very incomplete and inadequate reports. It would be safe estimate to say that the annual death toll from this dis ease in the state is at least 2000, and the number of suffereEs at this time from the disease are at least ten times
 the number of the annual deaths. and I believe this figure below rather than above the mark.
 "In view of these circumstances 1t appears that state appropriation of only Si0,000 per annum is totally made . diate to. deal with the situation. It would be grossly inadequate if con l fined only to this county
 | "The city of Atlanta in connection with the county of Fulton has recently purchased 37 acres of land within five miles of the city hall, and erected build | ings thereon at a cost of $2S.000. The property has been dedicated to an anti | tuberculosis camp. This camp is nearer to the city hall of Atlanta than either
 East Lake or Ensley is to the city hall of Birmin gham. The amount appro- priated for the maintenance of the camp is s20,0 per annum, equally divided be- tween the city and county and they | only expect to be able to take care of so patients. In fact, that is the maxi
 mum capacity of the camp.
 "It was a part of the programme of our association to raise as much as s10.- 900 during the year for additional equipment. There are a number of things badly needed for the camp just as it stands, and it's capacity ought to be doubled. The camp has no rerenues except what is derived from charity. from monthly advances from those patients who are able to pay, and a contribution of s100 per month each from the city and county, and 1t is now running behind. We cannot ask the citizens for private subscription to Day for increasing the size of this in- stitution and for necessary improve lnonts unless we have q reasonable ex- pectation of being able to stay there for a. sufficient length time to &C., complish tpe nurnnsa of the organiza .