The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-01-03
Clearing UP
OF A MisconceptiOn Regard
ing State SanitOrium
(Mansneld News)


Apropos to . recent article from
the Cleveland Press concerning the
Ohio State Sanitorium, II IL but fair
to the superintendent, DR.. Stephen A
Dougless, to state that the article
originally appeared nearly a year age
in that paper.
The article in question loses sight
Of the fact that the Ohio sanitorium
is not a place where people come to
die, but place where they come tc
learn how to live. and II occupies On
unique place among state institutions
in this--the inmates of other institu
tions perform the labor therein-and
they eat what the state provides. Ii
the Ohio State Sanitorium they are
cared for by hired help, and fed with
the best Of food, the last item being
an important factor in the cure. When
the. egg crates say Fresh eggs, "a
cents Tor whatever), Strictly fresh
eggs. rs cents. (or whatever)," Hon.
est to God fresh eggs, 30 cents" the
Ohio State Sanitorium must buy the
Honest to God" eggs. Also employees
must be paid more than the same class
Of labor receive elsewhere because Of
the danger of infection and the tso.
lation.
A year ago there were two grains
Of truth in the article-Dr. Daugiass'
youthfulness, and the fact that the
sanitorium is not hospital, and 1t ID
not equipped for the care Of people -
i'll that they must be indoors.
A hospital was not contemplated IN
the law which provided for the erec-
tion Of the sanitorium, and until there
is other legislation, it must remain
what 1t is, a place for the treatment
Of incipient tuberculosis.
The statute reads:
WHO ENTITLED TO ADMISSION.
Section Gen. Code 2o6s. Any citi.
zen Of this state or more than seven
years Of age, suffering from pulmoa-
ary tuberculosis in the incipient or
early stage. as determined by the %.
perintendent, may be admitted to the
Sanitorium upon payment, In advance.
of five dollars each week which charg.
shall fully cover all expenses for med
ical treatment medicine. nursing.
board, lodging and laundry"
PROBATION PERIOD
Gen. Code, Section 2069. All pa.
tients admitted to the Sanitorium shall
be received upon probation for q per
iod of four weeks. II, at the end Of
this time, they are, by the superintend.
ent, deemed suitable cases for sani.
torium treatment, they shall be regu.
larly admitted, and II not, be discharg.
ed"
The two grains of truth that were
in the article year ago, yet remain.
THE atrocious crime Of being young
man" DR.. Douglass will neither at.
tempt to palliate nor deny" The Sani.
torium Is still a sanitorium, and not q
hospital, and must remain SO, under
the statute. Notwithstanding the fact
that persons may be dying of. tuber-
culosis over the state. 1t is intended
to be an educational center where per.
sons may learn how to get well. and
60 away as missionaries to spread the
gospel of fresh air, good food and quiet
as a cure for the White Plague.
1t was recently asked of q woman
how long she expected to remain In
the institution. She answered, 81
have a back porch at home that
can convert into a sleeping and sit.
ting room. l have learned how to
take care of myself, and shall 60
home to my family after a month or
so, and complete my own cure"
About four hundred patients have
been treated throughout the year. and
last Sunday there were one hundred
Ind twenty-five, though the Christmas
exodus had begun.