The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-10-31
THE WAR ON WHITE PLAGUE
GOES ON IN WEST VIRGINIA
SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE
TUBERCULOSIS SANITARIUM DIS
CUSSES THE WORK.
HUNDREDS OF NEEDY PATIENTS
CANNOT BE TAKEN IN.
FACILITIES OUGHT TO BE MULTI
FILED MANY TINES.

Dr. f.. l.. Clovis, superintendent OF
the State tuberculosis Sanitar!um al
Terra Alta, w. Va, is visitor TO the
city. Or. Clovis IS 4 native of West
Virginia, an experienced practitioner
and for seven years. rr since the cStah-
lishm"nt Of the snnitarium a; Terra
Alta, he has been At the head Of that IN
Stitution. His record as su3crin;cnd-
Ont and director Of III" Sanitar!um has
been n most excellent ore. Under his
rcct.on the san!tarIum has become one
Of the most bcnCficIcnt and useful hui
manc institutions in the state OF Vest
Virginia. The establishment Of the
sanitarium and subsequent investiga-
tons show that the steps SO far taken
need to be added to and increased in
many ways. IN speaking on the sub
ject, DR.. Clovis said:
Many Want to Enter.
we have now at the sanitar!um
about l5n PATIENTS, and | do not think l
am cxagGrrating when | say that there
is need in West Virginia for expert
tubcrcular treatment and for saniiari-
u'ns capable Of taking care Of ten times
thnt many. Every patient that "" bring
from u locality S""ms to d"vrl"p III"
need for Nor" work. Hcopi" who be
como acquainted with the slm.tar.Um
are anxious To hav" its benefits. W."
have got seven buildings. 4 force Of
three physicians and some twelve or If
teen nurses. We are making some very
decided Improvements. Three new
buildings Will y" erected, and when they
arc finished We will have capacity fer
taking care Of about zoo patients. but
every day am forced 10 feel more and
more the crying need throughout the
stat" for larger amount OF this work.
B The state has Appropriated 100000 for
The support Of the S2nitarium. and four
or five times this amount Of money
might we'll no appropriated and il ought
TO bring Il rich return in thC lAs4ndS Of
lives saved
Reduce Infection
Every tuh"rcuihr infected person Is q
source Of danger TO all who are near
him or associated with him. 1t has
been estimated that four new cases of
tuberculosis on the average arise from
on" neglected case. and II may be easily
seem. therefore. how proper care cspcci-
ally in tn" earlier stages Of tn" disease
will operate To stamp out this dreaded
pla cue in the state Of West Virginia.
am not particularly pleading for more
equipment. more room and more bu:ld-
iEEs at Terra Alta. but | feel that the
work We ar" doing IS only small por-
! tion Of the work thar ought to be done.
Possibly the state should build another
tuberculosis saultarium in some Of the
southern counties and equip il on even
more liberal scale than THAI al Terra
Alta. great ina"y Of our patients
come from tho southern section Of tn"
state. We consider Terra Alta n very
good location. possibly. about as good rs
could be found n the state. and with tho
sanitarium already equipped and capable
Of considerable expansion. II would.
doubtless. b." n wise policy to add
, further facilities Ia that institution.
"Wh1t"v"r is doro in tho matter. how
ever. l cannot impress the need too
| strongly. Through IN" Intclligenccr l
would like 70 appeal 10 tn" liberal people
Of the stat" Of West Virginia. There
are hundreds # m"n and women in
! West Virginia dying every year from
, tuberculosis hc"aus" they ar" unable In
| leave their homes. They have no means
To travel long distances: they cannot b.
taken care Of in tn" state Gan!tarium
| for lack Of room and they nrr condemned
/ to die slowly ard lingering deaths Mt
! the same time becoming sources Of in
! lection to their family, their friends and
( their nriEhhors. In the midst Of this
W rk h" r"nlI2" exactly what 1t means,
/ and in III" namc OF humanity. rs we'll as
: for the health OF the generations yet 70
come. would like 10 appeal for larg-
er measure Of assistance. for the Terra
Alta sanitariUm. md also for n larger
! development of tn" entire WORK through.
out the state.
I'm Ohio county you nro doing good
, work in your loCa! sanitnriun. hut
naturally its field Is limited. md there
are number Of other institutions IN
the state that ar" trying 10 do locnI
work in this l!rc. All ~ them arc to hc
commended. but after all. It Is oniy
through the agency Of n" state tina, q
systematic organization TO hSht this
, dread disease will be effected"