The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-19
'CATAWBA' USE
OESTA1EFUNDS
Department Explai Why Re-
ceiving Hospital Was
Wanted at Salem.
OBJECTION FROM AUDITOR
Proposition Failed to Conform
to Appropriation Bill and
Was Abandoned.

In the annual report OF the State
Health Commissioner Ennion q. VII
lame. Just issued. there is a discussion
OF the use soguht to be made OF the APP
preparation for betternents at the
Catawba Sanatorium. The state
Board Of Health determined 70 build a
receiving hospital at Salem with part OF
the money Under a ruling OF the
Auditor. upheld by the Attorney-Oen-
eral. ~ was determined that this could
not be done under the wording OF the
section Of the general apprcpnatloh
bill, and the plan was abandoned-
The explanation OF the situation 10 as
follows: ,..,. =,
the needs Of the work against consufnp-
ton, the General Assembly OF isiz
made liberal allowance for Cata"Da
For maintenance during 1917 S4S'oO ~as
appropriated. with $4,000 TOT better
ruents For 1913. $4,000 was appro-
nriated for maintenance. hese Sp-
nropriations were made upon represen-
tation by the board that the "orK a.
CataWba could not be carried On 70
the best advantage without ceF Tain
specific betterments. list OF which was
prepared In December and was submit
Ted to the General Assembly. AT the
time we asked the finance committee
20 Incorporate these appropriations IN
the general appropriation Dill the e1
penditures then proposed seemed oes'-
In a few weeks, however. the board was
called upon to make very oehCa'o
choice.
Pew Incipients Enter.
pu,in0 the summer and fall months
of 1911 there had been noticeable de-
crease in the number of persons sur
serirg from truly incipient tuoercu-
losis and applying for admission 70 tne
sanatorium. IL was Impossible 10 I'LL
the sanatoriuYn with those cases whose
condition would render treatment easy
and recovery prompt. Inere were
thousands Of such cases in the state.
vet as IL happened. comparatively
few true incipients wanted treatment
Not educated as 10 the necessity OF carry
treatment, they did not wish TO enter
the institution unless their conoitlon
grew worse AS every vacant bed
meant loss to the State and as thousands
of moderately advanced cases were dy-
ing for lack of sanatorium treatment
we admitted the latter class during
the fall and early winter ana uhth the
Assembly met these patients oio wen
but during the rigorous months or rep
r,Iarv and March they suffered severely.
The open paviiions at Catawoa, so ao-
rnirabIe for incipients, did not give 70
advanced patients the protection they
needed Better and less exposed puiio-
ings were necessary before tne ADVENT OF
.,,,7o.he- vyin.ar This wac a solemn
truth we could not neglect.
The Betterments.
Indeed the expenditure OF the
authorized appropriation in needed I'M
movements at Ca.awba places the
board where it will have a more urgent
need for a reception hospital THESE
improvements are proceeding along tne
lines presented 10 the General empty
md will be com pleted during the present
winter. They viii not. to be sure. afford
ideal quarters for advanced cases, but
thew will give greater conventences 70
ali cases and will render less rigorous
to even the sickest patients the rough
winter months AT the same 'iine eNeiy
aesort ina. can be put forth is being ex-
nended 20 educate physicians IN the
diagnosis of tuberculosis and all possible