The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-02
A HOME HOSPITAL.
An Experiment In Home
Treatment of Tuberculo-
sis-Part of Vanderbilt
TenementS Rented for
Trial = An Attempt to
Stop Infection Within
Family.

John A Kingsbury, General Agent
New York Association for Improv-
ing the Condition of the Poor.
Exclusive Service The Survey Press
BureaW
About a year ago the Rev. F. Tira-
sinni brought TO our attention fam
lily consisting of a father and moth
err. both suffering from tuberculosis,
and seven children Two of the chill
dren, aged ten and two, were also
IN the grip of the White Plague. Two
other tots of four and five, were suf-
fering from serious eye trouble and
running ears and the twin babies.
scarcely two months old, were ill with
bronchitis. Frank, the only other
child. eight years old, though not pro-
nounced tuberculous, was pale and
anaemic. The mother, although tub
erculous. was nursing the twin babies,
who developed pneumonia within few
days and, after a brief illness, died.
X. The family, who we will call the
Bocora family, had been self-respect-
ing and self-supporting. until they
found themselves afflicted with tub
erculosis. Mr.. Bocora, a carpenter.
had a reputation for honesty and en-
ipved the confidence of his landlord
and his grocer.
During a consultation as to the hest
treatment for this family, Homer
Folks. Ex-CommiSiSoner Of Charities
of New York City, suggested that the
Rocora family itself would fill a small
hospital Why not put a nurse in
there and have the doctor call every
DAY. said Mr. Folks, land in fact
turn the home into a hospital" In
quiry showed that among the 2S4 fam
lilies we were caring for in which
there was tuberculosis fifteen were
in much the same condition as the
Bocora family. Further discussion
with experts resulted in the plan for
The Home Hospital is new experts
ment irr the home treatment of COM
bined poverty and tuberculosis which
our association is inaugurat1ng. It's
purpose is to give effective relief to
4 number of needy families in which
there is tuberculosis and while SO 90
ing to find out whether it is possible
in a sanitary tenement under wise
medical direction and constant nursing
oversight with freedom from undue
worry fresh air and sunshine, and
room for reasonable segrega tion-to
protect the we'll members OF the fam
jly from infection. Other aims are
stages of the disease, and to afford
improvement to patients whose cases
are only moderately advanced. To
insure sanitary homes section OF
the East River homes, 18th street and
John Jay Park, New York City, more
Familiarity known as the Vanderbilt
Tenements'' has been leased for three
bears. This section consists of TWEEN
ty-four apartments VITA south eastern
exposures
The families participating in the ex-
pertinent will be mainly those now in
the care of our relief department who
are dependent because or .tubercu-
losis. Able bodied members of the
families will be required to work and
to contribute their earnings to the
family support So far as it is nee
essary and possible a, hospital and
sanatorium regime will be instituted
in each family. Everything affecting
the life of not only the patient but Of
the other members of the family, will
be carefully supervised both on the
social and on the medical side. We
propose to bear in mind that no pre-
ventive measure is so valuable as the
proper protection against the source
of infection. Patients will work only
on the advice of the physician in
charge and as their strength permits.
Every member of the household will
be examined regularly whether sick
or we'll. BY this means many cases
will be discovered in the very early
stages and cure in such cases will be
much more nearly certain
Families will not be dismissed from
the Home Hospital until their patients
have practically recovered full
strength and not until they are able
to work fun time. When the fami-
lies leave we shall see that they are
moved into suitable homes and shall
continue our supervision over them
until we are assured that the cure
is complete and the family self-suI'-
porting
Children who have tuberculosis and
those who are predisposed to the dis
ease. will be taken care of through.
out the entire day on the roof of the
East River Homes in an open air
school. Children of school age enjoy
ing good health will attend the reg
Glar public school. 1t is expected that
4 school will be equipped and a teach>
err provided by the Board of Educa-
zion as in the case of other open air
schools in New York city.
In addition to those of our regular
employees who will have to do with
the experiment, a small salaried staff
will devote full time to it. There will
be a visiting housewife with helper
whose duty it will be to assist the
resident housewives with their heavy
Homework such as laundering, especi>
ally in those homes where the house,
wife IS i'll with tuberculosis. A die
titan will spend part of her time in
Individual and group instructions in
food economics and food values.
The cost of the experiment will in
clude not merely the maintenance OF
the patient and the medical over
sight incident to the care of the sick,
hut also the relief of the family.
When il becomes necessary for the
chief bread winner in the avera ge
mans family to submit to long treat
.nent in a sanatorium, his care is but
3 small part of the total expense.
Some one must provide for his family.
But often in considering the cost of
tuberculosis this large item is en-
tirely overlooked. In estimating the
cost of this experiment, which
amounts to $3.50, we have taken
the entire cost of maintaining the
families. together with the expense of
treating the patients and have de-
Quoted the earnings of the able-bodied
members of each family.
The experiment is planned as a sup
plement and not as a substitute for
The hospital and sanatorium. We de-
Fire TO learn whether even in crowded
cities, given proper housing, sufficient