Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-05-01
CAMP.

! Board of Aldermen have started a
great work. That there are many
people in this city suffering from
this disease is well known. Some Of
them are unable to go away and, for
lack Of proper care, are slowly dying.
Every case means a loss to the city,
some indirectly, while others become
city charges and are thus drawing
directly on the city treasury. The
time is coming when every munich
pality will realize that it is far bet
ter to furnish a cure for these pa
tients than it is to ignore them, as
many places are doing at the pres
ent time.
1t was only a few years ago that it
was considered necessary for con-
sumptives to go to Colorado, or some
other high altitude where the ell
mate is clear and dry, in order to be
cured. Before that time, the patient
used to be shut up in a hot room,
which only fastened death. Now ii
has been discovered that the greatest
need of all tubercular patients is
plenty of fresh air and rest, together
with the proper kind Of diet. 1t is
not necessary to go away off in or
der to be cured. 1t can be done
right here at home. 1t has been
done even in New York city.
The state of New Jersey maintains
a sanitarium at Glen Gardner, where
a great work is being done. But
that institution is not half large
enough. People are still dying by
thousands for the lack of proper at
tention. To render further aid, diff
ferent counties have established an
itariums of their own. In some
cases, cities have taken the matter
in their own hands and are doing
what they can to fight the disease
locally. This is what Perth Amboy
is about to do, and the aldermen
cannot be praised too highly for this
humanitarian step. While the move
ment is only on a small scale at pres
ent, it is a start and capable of great
development. No taxpayer will COM
plain while such good work as this is
going on.
While the isolation hospital is a
small shed-like structure, it will,
when moved to higher ground and a
large porch added, make as good a
tuberculosis camp as any that could
be built. 1t is very likely that the
state will render much valuable as
sistance in getting the work started
and the local anti-tuberculosis So
ciety might get behind the move
ment. There is little doubt that gen.
erous contributions would be made
for carrying on the work so aus-
piciously begun. With the Board of
Aldermen willing to give their as
sistance to the extent of furnishing
a building and providing partly for
the maintenance of the patients, it
would seem as if the people of the
city should get behind the idea and
make it all that it should be.
1t is particularly appropriate that
the announcement Of the aldermen's
action in this regard should be made
the day preceding tuberculosis day,
which was so generally observed
throughout Tie country yesterday.
1t would seem as If the aldermen
we're determined to observe the day
In their own way-a most substan-
tial way, indeed. DR.. NJ. S. Meinzer
is to be commended for carrying the
matter before the city fathers in
such a convincing manner.
With a playground commission al
ready at work and with a tubercu-
losis camp about to be started,
Perth Amboy, with the additions to
school buildings, the new apparatus
for the fire department and the
street paving well under way, is
forging ahead rapidly as one of the
most progressive cities in the state.
The aldermen are giving us plenty
of material for talking Perth Amboy
as never before.
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