The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-24

ed on account of their unfavorable
condition. 1t has been the policy OF
the sanatorium to admit only those
cases which offer some hope of perma
nent Improvement.
In the tables showing the result OF
treatment in 80 tuberculous patients
who were discharged during the year
they have been divided into classes
according TO the length of residence
into periods of less than one month, .
more than one MONTH" more than
three months" and more than six
1 months residence.
A careful study OF each division
shows the benefit to be derived from
a long residence at the sanatorium
ard should impress all with the ad-
vantage OF going into an institution
while the disease is in its early stages
rather than waiting until one is unfit
Tor work. SiXty-seyen patients gained
an average OF y IL pounds each
while four were stationary and - lost
an average of 1s2 pounds each. Most
of the patients admitted have been be-
tween the ages Of Is and So
Rutland had tho largest number OF
patients. 25 in all. while Chittenden
had 10. Windsor II. Addison 8, and
Windham county 8. The average num-
her of patients treated per day during
the year was 80
OF the 80 cases studied, 1t was found
that So of them gave a family history
OF tuberculosis. over one-half of these
coming from families where there
were open or Lucrative cases in the
household of the patient during infan.
cy or early childhood
1t is well to recall at this point that
the present teaching is that most
cases are infected in early childhood
and we should use every effort to i'm
press this fact upon all OF cur people.
The sanatorium has completed its
ninth year and a total of OIL admis-
sions has been made since its open
ms.
Methods OF treatment continue as
in previous years. the greatest reli-
ance being placed on rest. All patients
are kept in bed until they have a nor
NAL pulse and temperature. IN the
matter of food. practically all patients
take three regular meals per day.
Meat is served only twice o day and
liberal amount of fruits and salads is
provided Milk is served at each meal
and large number of the patients
are also served with a glass of milk
at 10 a. m, 4 D. m. and p. IN. Coffee
is served for breakfast and tea or
cocoa for supper. We do not use raw
eggs as a routine treatment. Patients
are required TO sleep out of doors at
night and probably 20 out OF the "a
hours is spent on the porohes.
During the past year A patients
have been supported by the state of
Vermont, while two have been sup
ported ythe Mary Minerva Ormsbee
fund and the Red Cross society has
extended aid in the case of one pa
tient.
The physical condition Of the sana-
forum is good. The grounds have
been kept up. During the year a fumi-
eating chamber has been constructed
and the dressing room OF "The Shack"
has been enlarged so that it will now
accommodate eight people more COM
fortably than it formerly did, while
changes have been made in the West
cottage so that three more men may
be accommodated. This brings the
total capacity of the institution up to
A. A Kny-Scheerer X-ray apparatus
has been added to the medical equip
ment and installed in the basement.
The total cost for maintenance of
patients during 1916 was s27,279,
which is a cost of $500 per patient
per week. Last year the rate charged
the patients was only $3.50, so that
there has been a deficit OF $3.50 per
patient per week On March /, 1917
the rate was raised to SO per week in
the hope Of reducing the annual de-
felt. The deficit has been met from
the interest of securities left by a
friend OF the institution.