Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-15

the early diagnosis of this disease.
Facilities Are Inadequate.
$50 rapid has been our advance that
the facilities for the care and treat
ment of tuberculosis are wholly mad
equate. The demands are much In ex-
cess Of our ability to hospitalize those
who are asking such care.
There may be those who would have
you believe that Iowa is pitifully be-
hind many of the other states in ag-
gressive warfare against tuberculosis.
Such statements have appeared in the
newspaper press. Let us not be
alarmed at assumption. Statistics are
valuable when they lend force to an
argument, but their potency lies rather
in the conservative estimates than In
extravagant statements. A liberal es-
innate of the whole number of emer-
gent cases Of tuberculosis in Iowa
would be probably 5000. OF course
these are not all dying cases, 1t
would be folly to assume that all need
hospital care Many Of them are mere
~ suspected cases. AS you know, the
incidence Of tuberculosis is nuc!!
greater than the death rate. If 1900
hospital beds could be provided. and
distributed according to population
centers, we would be in a position to
very largely control the tuberculosis in
the state.
Work of State Sanatoriun.
"The state sanatorium Is the most
positive tuberculosis argument in Iowa.
In fact any hospital for tuberculosis is
a potential argument. but Oakdale with
its statewide opportunity has served
to focus the attention of the entire
state on the helpability Of this disease
as nothing else could. When I say
'helpabilty, it is because the word is
elastic. Oakdale has sent out hun
dreds OF graduates who have gone
back to their neighborhoods and enter
ed into the civic life and are now po-
tential citizens. They have served as
a stimuli for multitudes of others sus-
pected or positively tuberculous, to
seek aid and comfort at the state san
atorium or elsewhere. Oakdale is only
half grown. The equipment is not yet
complete. There are needs which can
be supplied only by ample appropria-
tons. A medical building is desirable
for the most efficient work.
II take this time to say a word with
reference to the magnificent work done
by DR.. Scarborough. His long expert
cnce together with his studious habits
and untiring energy, have eminently
fitted him for his great task. More
over, he has been able to associate with
him. staff Of able assistants loyal to
the institution and faithful in service.
Danger From Infected Cows.
II believe the time has come when
ha 1ot CHI fol
regarding tuberculosis iii cattle and
hogs. That tuberculosis in dairy cat
tie constitutes an clement of danger,
no one familiar with the facts will de-
NY DR.. Parks, of New York City. has
proven that about s per cent of the tu-
berculosis in children was caused from
the milk from tuberculous dairy cows.
The incidence of tuberculosis among
children from that source in this state,
is probably higher than Parks found.
In any event the danger from this
source is appreciate and should be
recognized as an ultimate step to be
taken in the overthrow of the white
plague.
'fMore money could be used in the
department for the extension of knowl
edge of this disease. but whatever
funds may be available, no rapid fire
methods Of eradication can be adopted
which would not be abortive.
Tuberculosis is a disease which
will require generation at
least to control. j am confident that
within reasonable time, with suffi-
Gent 1spital beds for the dying cases,
a death from tuberculosis will be as
rare as a death from small pox Is to-
day Do not misunderstood me. There
will be cases of tuberculosis, but they
will be detected so early. and the facil-
tiles for their care will be so abundant
that they will not die, and then, gen.
tlemen, preventive medicine will have
foutgeneraled the Captain of the Men
of Death.