New-York tribune., 1912-03-21
HOME HOSPITAL WILL
TREAT CONSERVATIVES
A. |. c. P. will Attack Centres
of Tuberculosis Infection in
Tenement District.
HAS FUNDS FOR FIRST YEAR
Twenty four Families Will Be
Housed in Vanderbilt Tene-
ments Under Care of Nurses
and Physicians.

To demonstrate the feasibility of
plan to wipe out centres of tuberculosis
infection in the tenement house districts
here and in other cities. the New York
Association for Improving the Condition
of the Poor has leased an entire section
of the East River Homes. known as the
Vanderbilt Tenements, for three years
and converted it into home hospital
In this new institution the association
has begun an experiment in the HON"
treatment of ConsumptiVes and the relie'
of persons suffering from the disease
Into each of the twenty-four apartments
a family will be placed which is de-
pendent because Of tuberculosis and has
come under the care Of the association.
For the next three years an effort Will
be made To determine whether the spread
OF tuberculosis can he checked and cures
affected under medical direction, aide
by competent nursing, adequate RELIEF
freedom from worry, fresh air and sun
shine and room for reasonable scSrega-
tion.
out of the total of $500 families now
under the care of the association, there
are 2S4 in which there are one or moro
cases of tuberculosis. In fifteen of thcs"
families both parents and one or more
OF the children are cOnsurptives.
According 10 the statistics of the
Health Department New York city suf-
fored loss Of 1904 lives in 1910 as the
result Of this one disease. In the same
year 81. .OGJ lew cases were reported. AMI
it is conscrvatively estimated that there
were 10000 living cases in tine city
year ago.
In this new home hospital the associa-
tion will provide for segregation withil
each apartment and for fresh air treat.
ment, especially for the children. y hos
pital and sanatorium regime will he in
stituted and everything affecting the
health both OF the patient and the other
members Of the family will be carefully
supervised.
Patients will be allowed 10 work only
on the advice Of the physician. and when
permitted they will begin gradually. as
their strength permits. In order that
cures may he permanent. families will
not be dismissed from the hospital until
the patients have practically recovered
full strength and until they are able 10
work full time. After dismissal eaca
family Will be moved into suitable
home and supervision Will be continued
by the association until II is assured that
the cure Is permanent and the family
actually sclf-supporting
The tuberculosis children and those
predisposed TO the disease will attend an
open air school, which will be estab-
lished on the roof Of the East River
Homes This will be equipped. and the
teacher will probably be provided by the
Board OF Education The children Of
school age who are in good health vii.
attend the public school and others
whose health will permit Will work.
This experiment, which experts CON
slider 10 be of national importance. will
be conducted under a special committee
Of the association. consisting Of Dr.
Linsly T. Williams, chairman; Cornelius
y. Bliss. Harry Pelham Robbins and Dr.
Livingstone fdIldIlu' hl7' ii'i'iI
knight Smith has been engaged as SUI
pervising nurse and will devote her
whole time TO the personal direction OF
the experiment
There will be a visiting housewife VIII
will assist the housewives with their
heavier work. the associations dietitian
will give individual and group instruc-
tion I'm food economics and food values
and visitors and other members OF the
Association for Improving the Condition
Of the Poor staff will cooperate on the
social side Of the experiment.
The association announces that practi-
cally all of the fund necessary to finance
the experiment for The first year has
been raised.