The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-08-17
PATIENTS MAKE A
PITIFUL APPEAL
UNLESS FUNDS ARE FORTHCOM-
ING CATAWBA SUFFERERS
MUST LEAVE.

CATAWBA SANATORIUM. VA,
Special.-With an interest truly pa
thetic, thirty-twO patients of the sana-
forum are watching every incoming
mail 10 see what response the peO-
J pie OF the state are making TO their
appeal for help, are wondering wheth-
/ er or not the money will be forth
coming to enable them to stay at the
sanatorium and complete their cure.
When the state Board OF Health
adopted a rul9 that patients could not
remain at the sanatorium for longer
than SIX months, an examination of
the roll showed that there were more
than thirty recovering cOnsumptives
who, under this rule, would have TO
leave the institution which has meant
rescue from the jaws of death TO many
of them.
There has been no inclination TO
criticiSe the board for adopting this
rule. The patients aCQuieSce. They
realize that Catawba is largely an ed
ucauOnal institution and that il can
be of more benefit TO the people of
irginia If large number of patients
are treated for a short time than if a
small number were treated for
/ longer time. Like institutions i'm other
states have similar rules, and the pa
ucntS are too generous to deny to
others the benefits they have enjoyed.
At the same time, the new rule is
working great hardship. Most of the
patients are able TO pay for treatment
II allowed 70 remain: but few Of them
are willing TO return home as long
as there is any danger that they may
infect their families Moreover il
viii he several months before enough
private institutions are opened i'm the
state 10 care for them and the large
number of others ClamOring for adj
mission. Consequently. the only hope
OF these patients is TO remain at Ca
tawba.
The patients are doing everything
IN their power TO accomplish this
The State Board OF Health is With
out funds to erect additional build
ings and can do little except encOur-
age the patients. Undaunted by this.
the patients have organized a relief
association, with the ableSt-bod of
their number as officers. and are an
pealing for funds TO erect two new
buildings. If this money is forth
coming the buildings will rise quickly
and will be a home and resting-place
for those patients who otherwise
would have to leave the Sanatorium
The response to the appeal made
by the association has not yet met
WITH much encouragement. but the
patients are still hoping that the gen
erous people Of the commonwealth
Viii contribute the necessary funds
'nly $1,000 is needed. the patients
urge, and this sum will enable at
east thlty patients to remain where
they can be permanently cured aud
return home well men and women.
Health Commissioner Ennion G
Williams and DR.. d. s. Freeman,
Executive Secretary of the State Anti
tuberculosis Association. are doing all
i'm their power to forward the work
of the Association and have united i'm
"a public card declaring the work OF
the association vital to the tuberru-
lOsis crusade in the CommonWea IN
NO more worthy cause" they SAY.
can possibly be conceived and no
more urgent claim has ever been
made on the bounty OF the people of
the Commonwealth. If the Relief
Association receives the small sum il
asks IL viii not only reduce the posi-
BILE sources Of infection from tubercu-
losiS in the State, but il will bring
happiness TO a most deserving con-
pany OF men and women. 1t is inn
possible to eNaggerate the absolute