Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-30

ed by all the patients now in the Sana-
torium for tuberculosis, to Hon. Peter
Norpeck, Governor elect, which explains
itself:
CUSTER, S. d., Dec. %, 1916.
Hon Peter Norbeck, Goyernor-elect,
Pierre, South Dakota
SrR:-We, the undersigned, cCmpris.
ing all the present patients of the South
Dakota State Sanatorum for Tubercu-
losis, at Custer, respectfully present to
you our earnest appeal in behalf Of this
institution and the unfortunate people
of the state to whom it is purposed to
minister.
We would respectfully call your at
tention to the urgent needs of the Sana-
torium, asking that you lay these repre-
sentations before the members of the
Legislature in the coming session. and
that you urge upon them the import
ance and the imperative need of imme
diate consideration of these necessities,
and the adoption of necessary measures
carrying the required appropriations OF
funds to meet these needs, as herein
after set forth, to the end that the ac-
commodations and efficiency of one Of
the states important and worthy insti-
tutions may be materially increased.
In this we are convinced an imperative
duty confronts the Legislature, the fail
ureto perform which would be little
short of a crime against the whole peo.
Pile of the state. In support of this be
lief, and as basis for this petition, we
beg to submit the following pregnant
facts
The state vital statistics report for the
year 1915, revealed the fact that deaths
from tubercular affections were more
than ten per cent. greater than in any
previous year, the number reported be
ing 500. According the most approved
basis of calculation-ten cases to each
death-we arrive at the startling con
clusion that South Dakota has now at
the state has provided for the care and
treatment Of these, o.e makeshift sana-
torium, haphazardly constructed, poorly
equipped and insuficiently maintained,
having a capacity of about forty pa
tlents.
Within the last three months, more
than IS applications for admittance to
the institution have been received nat
uraly nearly all of them had to be turn
ed away without hope-that is, they
could not even be considered, as the
sanatorium is now crowded to its utmost
capacity. There is constantly long
waiting list, many of whom die before
they can be given room here. Scores OF
| others, ignorant of the possibilities OF
arrest and cure of their malady, languish
and die, a distinct loss 10 the state. The
| responsibility for these lives, heav,
one, rests directly upon the State, for
most OF these could have been saved,
and would have been, had the Legisla-
ture In the past not failed to do its duty.
For it is fact that should no longer
need argument, and one plainly demon
strated by the excellent work of this
institution, that tuberculosis is pre-
ventable, and if treated early, a durable
disease
Authorities are agreed that every con-
sumptive, for his own good and for the
protection of the general public against
infection, should be supervised and cared
for. 1t has been demonstrated that this
can best be done in an institution OF
this kind. Other states have materially
reduced the tuberculosis death rate, by
providing wisely and literally for sana-
toria, and otherwise aiding in the fight
for prevention and cure, while the la
mentable fact stares us in the face that
our own great state, proudly boasting of
its material wealth, through it's policy
OF complacent neglect, has a rapidly in
creasing tuberculosis death rate, and in
public health matters is classed as a lag
gard among the states
In the light of these and other signifi-
cant facts that could be adduced, the
states legislators in the approaching ses-
sion is manifest and pressing. For
economic as well as Humanitarian
reasons, it is the plain duty of the state
to provide funds.
First, for a modern central heating
plant to displace the unsafe, unsanitary.
wasteful and wholly unsatisfactory sys-
tenn at present of heating with stoves.
This is recognized as imperatively need
ed by all the officials who have nyesti
gated the institution during the past two
years.
Additional and permanent buildings
should be constructed to increase the
capacity TO at least 100 beds. This
would care for only a small proportion
of those desiring and needing its care
but it would be step in the right drec-
ton, would form nucleus for an ade-
quate institution, the policy of building
which the state would have definitely
embarked upon.
There is great need of a modern. well
equipped hospital, either here or else.
where in the state, for advanced cases.
The present appropriations for main
tenance are inadequate to provide the
needed physicians, nurses aud general
help to give the proper supervision aud
care OF the patients, and thus the effici
ency of the work Is greatly lessened.