The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-16

cannot take care Of morbund cases.
"The Vermont sanatorium has ca
pacity of 43 beds, and during the year
has cared for an average OF nearly 40
patients. 1t will be seen that we can
always take care of the incipient eases
and practically all of the carly second
stage cases. 1t viii be impossible, how
ever, to admit long-standing cases re-
curing indefinite bed treatment II IS
Icxtromely embarrassing at times TO know
what to do with these unfayorable or
moribund cases. Often their home con-
ditions are very bad and one hesitates
TO let their family take them, and in
several instances it has been necessary
to beg some local hospital to take
charge of them.
81 never meet a physician who does
not tell me that he has one or more
cases who should be either in a hospital
or in sanatorium Everyone aeknowl-
edges the danger to the other members
OF the family and can appreciate the
| fact that tuberculous individual IN any
| family demands time that should go into
rest and recreation, money that should
20 into food, and labor that would 90
| into the wealth of the community.
While institutional care appears to cost
more money than private care, in the
| long run that cost comes out Of the COM
munity or locality in which the i'll pa
tient is cared for, ii done in their own
| family.
"The annual appropriation of $4,000,
which has been dispensed under acts No.
2l0 and 800 OF 1912, is the first money
spent by the state for the care of tuber-
culous individuals. The governor, dur
| ing 1913, designated % cases, and S3, l64.-
IS was used, During 1914, however, the
number designated was Fl, and the entire
appropriation of $1,000 was used. As
| early as September, however, it was
found that the appropriation would not
be adequate, ii all applications Tor aid
were granted, and no designations were
made after August 20. Since that date,
large number Of inquiries have been
made regarding state aid, and undoubt-
/ edlv many more would have applied had
there been any money available The
sanatorium up to the present time has
cared for these cases at $3.50 per week,
which is the nominal rate charged pri-
vate patients. The state cases are placed
on exactly the same footing as private
pay patients. and no distinction is made
between them.
"In addition TO state aid the Vermont
chapter of the American Red Cross soci-
ETY. has each year contributed money
toward the support OF individual pa
tients. During 1914, they have aided
seven cases, expending S5l4.2S. OF course,
it il impossible to enumerate the many
individuals and corporations who have
aided their employees or proteges through
the state.
"The striking need Of the state Of Yer
mont, however, is place where one
can send a far advanced case of tubercu-
losis. At present there is no institu-
ton in the state that will admit case
of this type, and very few without the
state: but even il you could find institu-
tions beyond the borders of the state
that would admit these cases, It would
not be advisable to- send them so far
away from home. Every tuberculosis
worker now admits the advisability of
caring for i'll patients as near home as
possible.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward J. Rogers,
superintendent and Medical Director,
Enquiries have been addressed to the
various hospitals of the state as to their
eouipmcnt and willingness 10 care for
patients affected with tuberculosis. Two
such institutions have expressed will
ingncss TO consider the matter, II funds
can be provided. :,
Further inquiries have been addressed
to all the New England states, and to
New York state, also, as to what meas
ures are thought necessary TO safeguard
the lives OF citizens OF those states. \
member Of the commission was present
AZ the midwinter meeting Of the Amerl-
can Sanatoria association Of Middleboro,
Mass. and conferred personally with
men representing all sections OF the coun-
try and Of Canada as 20 the needs q
state in handling this most lnsidions
and dangerous disease.
tThe conditions in Vermont show that
for the year 1913 there were ga deaths
IN the state from all forms Of tub'g
sis. II il accepted by authorities on
subject that il is approximate to figure
ten open cases for each death. This
would mean that within the state, in the
wear 1913. there were 3,740 people al
fected with the disease. During the
same year, - patients were admitted 70
the Vermont sanatorium az PIttstord.
IN 10 Nov. /, 1914. there have been re-
ported 10 the state board Of health 22u9
cases Of tuberculosis. Of which number
:. were considered advanced OF the e.
timated 3.7s0 cases in 1919, private char.
~ cared for ~. aud, FOR the first time,
The state ~ Vermont assisted ~ caring
far about 20 q this number.
There "a. az present, no place % the
state known 90 your commission where
an advanced INDECENT tuberculosis patient
NAV b. cared for. and we have the record
81 al least AZ persons in advanced stages
II the disease who are remaining in their
homes. spreading The disease 90 innocent
members. vhile the state ignores The
danger o. her citiEeus.
what New England Has Done.
aside from private institutions and
the efart ii various charitable ofrHniza
fious in the Past the problem has r.
SOLVED tell into answering the ioilss me
question:
tGl should the earr oi advanced can
sumntivcs he rcrnrded ~ . state prob. /
fam ~ d. handird directly ~ tie state
3 state hasr tals ~ sHnat1ria ~
fz Shnuid i b. ipoked uTnn -
taaal rrohfm. 10 d. handled ~ local
rHsrrir.ua Iffrs under tte general fretfsz I