Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-12
PHYSICIANS HEAR
OF STATE S WORK
Dr.. Dixon Sends a Letter Outlining
What the Commonwealth Is
Doing For People

Each of the 1900 practicing ply
sicians throughout Pennsylvania to-
day received "a letter from State Com
missioner of Health Samuel G.. Dixon,
calling their attention to the free
treatment the State offers to all indi-
gent sufferers from tuberculosis and
requesting them to refer all poor per-
sons suffering from this disease to the
State dispensaries. The letter in part
was as follows:
Dear Doctor:
THE Commonwealth of Pennsylva-
MIA is Offering to it's people, who are
suffering from tuberculosis and who
nave not sufficient means to secure
for themselves the special treatment
needed. greater opportunities than
We're ever offered before in this coun-
try. There have been provided three
I'D modern sanatoria, located at
places convenient to every portion of
the state, where treatment is abso-
lutely free. In addition, in order to
provide for those who for any reason
are not able to go away from home,
there has been organized O system of
free dispensaries. Admission to the
State sanatoria can be secured by ap-
plication at any of the dispensaries.
AT both dispensaries and sanatoria pa
tients are accepted at all stages Of the
disease
"Dispensaries. The dispensaries
now number ia. There is at least
one In each county. the number being
regulated by the population of the
district.
"All that is necessary to secure ad-
mission to the dispensary is for the
applicant to present himself and satis-
factofily answer the questions set forth
on the various blanks. The dispensa-
r1es do not accept for treatment any
person who is not tuberculous, or
whose circumstances are such that II
would be no hardship to pay for the
special attention demanded. Dispen-
sary physicians are forbidden to ac-
cept as private patient any one who
mas been enrolled at q dispensary. The
home OF each patient is visited by one
of the departments visiting nurses,
who carefully inquiries into all the cir
cumstances of the case-financial as
we'll as hygienic. Patients who are
found to be in need of extra food sup
plies are furnished by the dispensaries
with from one to two quarts of milk
q day.
The marked changes frequently
seen in the manner of living of fami-
lies OF dispensary patients are d tri-
pute to the success of the visiting
nurses work. The work is of i'm
portance not only for physical rea-
sons, but because it improves the gem
eral sanitation of the community at
large. Much valuable cooperation
has been received from civic clubs and
other philanthropic societies.
"Dispensary physicians urge every
applicant to enter State sanatorium.
we believe the sanatorium treatment
Is far preferable to any treatment at
home. All admissions to the State
sanatoria are through the dispensarles
and any diSpensary chief will be very
glad, indeed, to furnish you what
ever information you may require, in
addition to that given above.
THE Commonwealth Is most anX-
lous to secure your most earnest CO.
operation in this great work of limit
ing tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is fatal
to over 10000 of our fellow Pennsyi-
vanians every year and it has been es-
timated that the economic cost to the
commonwealth is in the neighborhood
of $6O,00O,000 annually. If you have
In your vicinity, any poor persons suf-
fering from tuberculosis we shall be
very glad if You will give them infor-
nation which will lead to their avail
ing themselves of this great opportun-
ity for treatment. 1t is not intended
as charity, but as a measure of public
defense against disease, which, by its
long chronic course, Is peculiarly liza
BILE to render it's victim and his fam
lily financially unable to carry the bur-
den imposed. Your cooperation in
referring patients to the State dispen-
saries and santoria, and in persuading
them to remain under treatment q suf-
fciently long time to acquire real benz
eft therefrom, will materially improve
the prospects of a successful cam
paign.'