The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-04-01

to bear in mind that no preventive
measure is so valuable as the proper
protection against the source of i'm
lection. Patients viii work only on
the advice of the physician in charge
and as their strength permits. Every
member Of the household will be ex-i
amined regularly whether sick or well.
BY this mean many cases will be dis
covered 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 full time. When the families
leave we shall seesthat they are mov-
ed into suitable homes and shall con-
tinue our supervision over them until
we are assured that the cure is COM
plete and the family self-supporting.
Children who have tuberculosis and
those who are p~re-disposed to the
disease, 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 e
ldE pA11lS 6S1AOOAs E HI - SApSClCu LiAdL
a school will be equipped and a teach
er provided by the board of education
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 a helper
H. l..A "a III - - - 49,
resident housewives with their heavy
homework, such as laundering, es-
pecially in those homes where the
housewife is ill with tuberculosis. A
dietitian will spend part of her time
in individual and group instructions
, in food economies and food values.
The cost of the experiment will in
clude not merely the maintenance of
the patient and the medical oversight
incident to the care of the sick, but
also the relief of the family. When it
becomes necessary for the chief bread
: winner in the average mans family
to submit to long treatment in a sana-
forum, his care is but a 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 entirely overlooked.
| In estimating the cost of this expert
ment, which amounts to $685. 80, we
have taken the entire cost of main
tanning the families, together with the
expense of treating the patients and
have deducted the earnings of the
able bodied members of each family.
The experiment is planned as a
supplement and not as a substitute
for the hospital and sanatorium. We
desire to learn whether, even in
crowded cities, given proper housing,
sufficient food and sanitary supervi-
sion, it is not possible to check the
spread Of tuberculosis. Comparing
the actual number of beds becoming
available for tuberculosis in hospitals,
sanRtoria and day camps, with the
total number needed, 300, 900, it has
been shown that the annual incre-
ment is less than 1 per cent of the
total needed. The population is in
creasing more than 2 per cent pei
annum. Apparently we are still los
ing ground.
For hundreds now on the waiting
list and for thousands now spreading
contagion in dark, dirty homes, it is
home treatment or nothing. We be-
lieve that the success of this expert.
fnent would convince the community
that it is unnecessary to waste years
until sufficient hospital and sana.
forum facilities are provided before
attempting in a large way to elimin-
ate tuberculosis. 1t should lead to.