Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-04
Tho Homo Hospital Experiment.

lIlo lily u NEW 1OEk IE,foG ucW Cdo0S
Of tuberculosis. There were in addi-
ton 1855 other cases still living
which had been reported in previous
years, according to an article by Dr.
D. B. Armstrong, in the weekly health
reports. issued by the United States
Public Health Service.
In dirty. unventilated. overcrowded
rooms exists many a family. usually
with numerous children, in which one
or both parents have consumption.
Frequently several Of the children are
tuberculous, and all are inevitably ex-
posed to the disease. Not infre-
quently the consumptive mother Is
nursing an Inflated babe. In the
sputum- poisoned, germ charged at
mosphere tuberculosis develops I'M
recognized and unchecked. The home
is in disorder, the family, formerly
self respecting and independent, has
lost hope and often the capacity for
elf-support Standards of living and
of morals have either deteriorated or
utterly vanished. Thus the health re-
ports describe the conditions to be
remedied.
In the Home Hospital" in New
York City, established in 1912, such
families are installed in apartments
where sunlight. ventilation. and
healthful surroundings are provided.
The patients recline in easy chairs in
the solarium. The children attend
school on the roof and play and make
merry in the fresh air and sunshine.
The best medical advice Is given,
nourishing food is provided, and the
members of the family-sick and we'll
are given advice. encouragement,
taught to care for themselves, AMI
prepared for a return to normal &C
tivity.
During the first year. DR.. Arm
strong says, six families were dis
charged, rehabilitated physically, So
cially and economically; but, alas. five
were discharged during the same time
for intemperance and refusal to CO.
operate. During the past year eleven
families have been restored to health
and earning capacity" Three refused
to follow advice and were dismissed.
OF a total of SO positive" patients
and 10 suspects discharged only two
cases have relapsed, and in no in
the families developed symptoms Of
tuberculosis either while at the hos
pital or since discharge.
Novel features of this experiment
are that it keeps together the family,
preserving the home life. and making
it possible to care for patients who
could not or would not go to an in
stitution. and it cares not only for the
physical ills but for the economic and
social ills of the family.
The work aims at causes, seeks not
only the cure Of the individual but
the protection of society. is concerned
with the patient, his family and en-
vironment, and deals with funda-
mental questions Of livelihood and
life"
tives is being shifted from the private
purpose to the general public purse,
according to the observations of the
National Association for the Study
and Prevention of Tuberculosis, as re-
ported in their annual statistical state
ment just issued. In 1914 more than
$40, 100000 was spent in the public war
against this dread disease, in the
United States alone. OF this sum 66.S
per cent. was derived from public
funds, either federal. state. county or
municipal.
This seemingly vast sum should be
increased to s5O,OOO.OoO in 1915 and
the campaign for the eradication Of
the disease waged with redoubled
vigor. OF course the most earnest
altruistic endeavor to save life, re-
deem the unborn and make comfort
able the afflicted will meet with re-
bluffs from the ignorant, perverse or
demoralized, drug made, passion de
PRAYED wrecks Of humanity with whom
they come in contact. AS in the ex-
perience Of the Home Hospital en-
deavor, whole families were found too
long stepped in excess and intemper-
ance or too far the prey Of heredity,
fool customs and personal liberty to
be saved from themselves. They pre-
ferred the short life and the merry
one" with all its sufferings and hor-
rors to health and decency which the
public had placed within their grasp.
But the movement should go on and
save all those who are willing to be
saved. Such work is rewarded by