The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-06-20
tuberculosis Population d
Western Texas and New
Mexico over 10000.

Mexico oyer 10000.
WAsHHSGToS. June 1s-That TO-
: 900 consumptiyes annually go West
TO die is the statement made by the
nnited states pubic health service
rs The result OF Investigations recent
4 II completed The tz5ercuIous ooQu-
Iaftou of western Texas and eSew
Hexico Is estimated TO exceed 10000
per cent OF the families have some
member who is or was Injected. The
consunpttve population who have
migrated from their states IS more
than 1000 at Albuquerque. above
1900 at FL Paso, and $500 at San
Antonio. The effects OF the transpor-
cation OF thousands OF consurnpt1ves
to and from the resort cities upon
the health OF fellow travellers, the
dangers arising TO the commnnlties
Themselves from the influx OF tnyal1ds
and the social and economic results,
are the subject OF this broad and in
teresttng study.
Contrary to general opinion, the
migration OF the tutberculous is in
creastnS. Practically every resort
city Of the country Is today receiving
more consumptiyes than ever, al
crease has not kept pace with that OF
the Stipulation. Tables of death rates
Sof the principal resort cities clearly
demonstrate this fact. In other
words, more people seek climatic
cure for tuberculosis at present than
at any previous time
!; The percentage OF deaths from tub
serculosts occurring within short
period Of arrival Is lesening This Is
encouraging, and indicates that the
educational propaganda to keep far
:advaaced cases at home has been &c. OF
benefit Nevertheless, as high as f1f-
teen per cent Of all deaths occur
within thirty days after arrival This
shows that many were in a dying con
dftdon when they were transferred.
Forty per cent OF all deaths occur
within six months Of arrival, ndicat
ing that many consumptives go to
the West too late to be benefited
Instances are cited OF deaths over
taking sufferers on trains and in sta
tons
The sanitation of railway coaches
and the precautions Observed while
IN transit receive particular atten-
;tion. The average consumptive exer
cfses no precautionary measures The
!care given cars at terminals has an
important bearing upon the SITUATION,
and the necessity for the greatest
In the sanitation OF
;cars at resort terminals is empna-
sized. Means for regulating the evil
sof travelling consumptives arS con
seidered Hospital cars. segregation.
Quarantine, and other schemes, are
shown to be mpracticable. The pub
:1tc must. therefore, look to reason
able sanitary measures for protec-
ton.
EIects of Travel
dust confinement, altitude, and
nardng from friends, are declared to
5be Otter detrimental to patients eS.
ipectally those in the large stages OF
the disease. Cases OF this nature
tshouId Invariably be guided by pro-
ifessional advice. Accompaniment by
friends wherever possible IS urged.
Marked antagonism has developed
lin many western cities toward tuber-
sculosds sufferers Great difficulty IS
at times encountered in securing
hotel accommodations and boarding
places. Even hospital care IS occas-
tonrally denied to those amply sup
Eplted with funds. Part of this feel
;stnS is due to Objectionable conduct
on the part of consumpnyes them
selves. and also to fear of the dis
ease Much OF it is unreasonable and
unjust Even in towns largely com
posed OF the invalid class this feel
Ing Is sometimes manifested. IN
Esone cities, at least, 1t IS due to a de-
ktermtned effort to rid the community
Eof the presence of invalids- So
Estrpng is this resentment that the
sheaIth service warns all those who
present an appearance OF 7nvaid1sm
10 be governed accordingly.
The charity Organizations Of the
}resr,r+ Cities have claimed that hun
Edreds Of consumptives have become
ia burden upon their communities So
great was the outcry that confer
sence OF Representatives from western
Estates was called by the governor OF
Texas, and the federal government
tappeaaed to for aid Up until the
;preSent time few figures have been
iadvanced showing the extent of the
problem.
J, Causes of Poverty
Many dnralidS are forwarded by
churches, lodges. and unions, from
icther states These people are soon
sobHged, to seek charitable relief.
sWorksk often unobtainable. and com
nave little opportunity of obtaining
laucratfves employment
Private charity for the relief OF
sufferers is extensive and 100 great
praise cannot be accorded the people
OF the southwest for the assistance
rendered, but the public charity dis
pensed has been little enough. and
mot at all commensurate with the
benefits derived from the coming OF
health seekers. In one instance the
EXACT annual per capita cost to the
ta1 payers was found to be three
cents, whereas the city derived IN
fY,rNno