The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-11-14
MRS. HOWE SUGGESTS
TUBERCULOSIS FARM

Nov that the tuberculosis question
/ has been brought more foreibly before
the people in the form of tuberculosis
Il day. let Us stop to consider the best
methods of fighting this white plague.
| would like to offer a few suggestions
as they have come to me.
Each state should buy large tract
# land Of 200 or 800 acres in its most
| isolated section, where il would be high
and dry a good part of the year. Spe-
eial care should be used in selection of
= locality which offers those climatic
conditions most inimical to the disease.
These suffering from the disease
.boud be divided in such a manner as to
fer the best conditions for the recov-
sry Of each class of patients. Thirty
! jr 40 should be placed in each colony
or camp, in tents. with central dining
tent conducted.on the cafeteria plan,
thus lessening the general expense by
allowing each one to wait upon himself.
This would give each patient the privi-
lege of catering to himself.
One camp should be for those in
less advanced stage who may have
,one into a slight decline from contin-
led colds, unchecked, until the system
has no power of resistance. These
need only rest, change of climate with
outdoor life, wholesome food, and strict
segregation from Those who have the
disease in a more aggravated form.
This is the class for whom the efforts
put forth would be most effectual.
Many a clerk or shop girl or young
man could be saved and made useful in
life if they had been taught in such
place how to care for themselves, how
II help others and how to prevent the
spread of germs.
Another camp should be for the less
hopeful, many of whom no doubt could
be helped if not cured. These two
classes could assist upon the farm with |
light work, helping to produce their |
own necessaries, vegetables, fruits.
butter, etc. Arousing their interest in |
the place, they would be more con.
tented and made to feel that they too,
were bearing some of the burdens of |
life. A couple of hours work each day |
would be good appetizer and stimu-
LIANT for the circulation. Let milk,
eggs and every form of farm product
be raised on the place, so that the pa
tient may be supplied abundantly with
the most nourishing food. A pure
water supply is necessary, also.
Then comes the next class which has
reached the incurable stage for which
there is no hope but merclful release.
They should be segregated from the
aIoreag thaf thou roinhf hnu1 |
no depressing influence upon the others.
They should be made as comfortable
and happy as kindness and thought
could do for them. The srule of seq
regation should be so strict that it
could not be violated except by special
permission, granted only in case of the
patient desiring to leave for his own
home, where he should be compelled
to stay within his own grounds. Here
they should be under the control of a
board of health or similar authority,
which, at proper intervals, would fumi-
gate and do everything possible to pre-
vent the spread of the disease. When
death comes, these officers should see
that everything previously used by the
patient is burned and not sold, as is
often done at present, to the second
hand dealers, thence to be distributed
among the poor, where it forms a hot
bed in which the germs may multiply.
Patients of this class should never be
allowed in rooming houses or crowded |
places.
Now comes one of the greatest prob
lens and hardest to solve, i. e., the
.nntr,l 0f ba tratynlars pt,Harsrrx
tuberculosis. We should have laws
passed and enforced to prevent patients
in the latter stages from travelling in
public conveyances except when it is
necessary to move sthem to the state
farm. 1t is criminal for physician to
advise patient to leave home when
he is incurable, if home conditions are
such that he can be made comfortable.
1t is common thing for patient to
die while travelling or SEQ after reach
ing his destination. In many such
cases his bedding is used the following
night by some unsuspecting traveller.
Constant vigilance should be exercised
in regard to expectoration. Some
railroads fumigate fairly well, but
even so, ,they cannot entirely do away
with the evil when tuberculosis pa
tients are shut up with their fellow |
passengers for several days at time.
1t is not fair for one state to send |
tuberculosis patients to another state.
Let each state maintain its own farm.
Let every one in need of help lie wei
coined. Let each pay as he is able.
If the state would buy the land. no
doubt the tuberculosis society would
assume the obligation for improve
ments. Our motto should be, THE
greatest good to the greatest number. "
Mrs. Alma l.. Howe.