Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-12-29
State Program For Fight
ina Tuberculosis

TRENTON, Dec. 1S-Hereafter the
campaign against tuberculosis is to be
conducted in accordance with the
slogan, Facilities for the care of all the
t~uberculous in New Jersey by 1920"
according to a recent statement obtain
ed from the office OF the State Depart
ment of Health. This slogan was
adopted at a recent conference of tuber-
culoais workers for the purpose OF fix
ing q definite end toward which efforts
may be directed. From the platform
adopted for the purpose of carrying this
slogan into effect, it appears thai hos
pital or sanatorium provision for all
patients is moi expected by that time.
1t is e expected, however, that 1t will be
possible to provide care in their homes
for those who cannot be cared for in
sanatoriums. The platform embraces
all lines of work that have been found
most effective in combating tuber-
culosis. 1t consists of seven planks as
follows:
/. Every county to have sanatorium
provision within or very neari It's borders
for all the tuberculous.
2. A well organized and properly
supervised public health nursing GER
vice to be extended to all parts of the
state.
8. Facilities for the physical exam
ination and medical supervision of all
patients to be provided in dlspensaries
or by other arrangement.
4. All living cases of tuberculosis to
be reported to the local board of health.
5. Such careful, p~ainstaking, follow
up work by the local health officials, or
by others where health officials fail, as
will insure proper supervision at home
for all cases who cannot be induced to
accept hospital or sanatorium care.
6. Thorough cleansing Of the prem
ises after every removal or death of a
tuberculosis patient.
I. A more intensive study of the
tuberculosis problem in relation to the
state and the several communities
within the state. and a full presenta-
ton of the facts to the public.
The conference decided to make
special efforts during the next year to
obtain sanatorium provision for tnber-
culosis patients, and adopted the stand
ard Of one bed for each annual death
from the disease as an end toward
which to work. 1t was not the idea OF
the conference that each county should
make immediate sanatorium provision
for as many cases as there are annual
deaths in the county, but that this ratio
should be kept In mind as represent
ing the probable ultimate needs. For
this reason q sa%natorium should be 80
planned that additions can be made
when more beds are required. The
standard was fixed at one bed FIR each
annual death for the reason that ex-
p~erience has shown that this probably
approximately represents the needs.
In some New York counties where
provision has already been made for
half the nu nber OF beds that there are
annual deaths from tuberculosis, the
demand for additional beds has become
i'm Imperative.
Sanatorium provision for active cases
is regarded as the most important step
that may be taken for the prevention of
tuberculosis for the same reason that
Isolation of the patient is considered
i'm portant in the prevention of small
pnx, diphtberia or scarlet fever. People
become in fected with tuberculosis by
living in close contact with persons
who have the disease. Children ale
much more susceptible to infection
thar adults and for this reason it is
particularly important not to permit
children to associate with tuberculosis
patients. The danger TO adults is very
much less than danger TO children.
1t is pointed out also that sanator-
ium provision near the patients home
Is highly desirable for the reason that
patients are more willing to accept
sanatorlum care near their homes than
far away. Some counties in the state
are now paying for the care OF patients
in institutions at a distance from their
homes and even in other states. 1t is
believed by health officials and others
interested ia the tuberculosis mov
ment that sanatorium provision nes
the patients home will be more effect
I've 10 preventing the spread of the
disease by making sanatorium care
more acceptable TO the patient.