Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-13
TUBERCULOSIS BEING
STEADILY FOUGHT
EContinued from First Page

Il
the health record showed sos cases
and 70 deaths due to tuberculosis; in
1910, 576 cases and 80 deaths; in 1911,
457 cases and 100 deaths; 1912, 1877
cases and IS deaths; 1913, 1853 cases,
70 deaths.
Preventive Not Curative
Although these figures show only a
slight falling off in the number of
deaths, the remarkable reduction in
the number of new cases indicates
the value Of the methods in use in
this city, which are more preventive
than curative.
The Red Cross seal campaigns each
Fall have been waged for educational
purposes, as well as for the purpose
Of collecting funds. Many children
in the schools have learned the mean
ing of the white plague" through
these campaigns. Last year was the
best campaign in the history of the
work in this city. A total of $1,9O2
was raised. OF this amount TN per
cent. will be used in this city. Part
will pay the car fare of the patients
sent to Mt. Alto and furnish clothing
and food to patients in the city. An
other share goes to pay the car fare
of children attending the open air
schools of the city.
Work at Dispensary
The greatest center of activity
against the disease in the city is the
| States free dispensary at 204 North
Second street. Here more than 800
patients are being treated, ESQ of them
children. A corps of seven physicians
and seven nurses are examining and
treating patients all day. The nurses
visit the homes of those afflicted and
correct living conditions. which fire.
| quently are the most important con-
| tributing cause of the disease.
DR.. Paul Hartman, the physician in
charge, says that many persons seem
to think it difficult to get an examina-
ton or treatment at the dispensary.
He pointed out that there is nothing
TO fear and showed that 1t is to the
best interests of the patient to come
to the dspensary early, when there is
a good chance of q cure.
Many Are Reassured
Many people do come to the dis
| pensary who have no trace of tuber-
culosis," he said. Last month. for
instance, out of 102 patients examined,
| 7S were found to be tubercular. The
others were reasSured."
A thorough physical examination is
given every patient and a history of
the life of the patients health is
taken in reference to tuberculosis and
other diseases.
After every fact that will be of
value in the examination and treat
ment of the patient is obtained by one
| of the nurses, a member of the staff
| of physicians makes thorough ply
steal examination. The results of this
examination determine the further ac-
| ton of the dispensary in the case. If
the patient has the disease, q nurse
visits his home and follows up the
case The patient returns to the dis
pensary for treatment every two
weeks
Milk Inspection
The milk inspection by the city has
been help i'll furnishing q milk sup
ply which Is more free from danger
from tuberculosis than formerly, and
the certified milk" which local physi-
clans have made possible Is guaran-
| teed free from tuberculosis organisms.
The herd on the Lands farm has been
selected for their health, and every
part of the farm is as clean as a
Dutch Kitchen The bottles are
sealed at the farm and the milk is
not handled until it reaches the con-
sumer. 1t is used In treating tuber-
cular patients and in feeding babies.
The open air schools conducted by
the city School Board were established
two years ago. Children of school
age with tuberculosis cannot keep up
with healthy children, and the open
air schools are established to give
these children q mental training at
the same time that their diet and gen.
eral health are looked after in school
rooms which are open to the fresh
air. Several of the little patients have
been cured. The State dispensary and
the cpen-air schools work together.
But with all these agencies working
against the disease, the great good ii
looked for in preventing the growth ol
tire disease by education, and by cor
iection of bad housing conditions snt
the training of people to live right.