Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-21
ACUTE PROBLEM
FACES RED CROSS
IN NE VI MEXICO
Properly Supported, However,
ORGANIZATION Can Handle
Situation Caused by Coming
Of Many TuberCuIar Soldiers

The Red Cross has problem in
New Mexico which IS more acute than
in most states because of the climate.
Hundreds of men discharged for tu-
berculosis are coming here on the adj
vice of physicians. Thousands more
are being sent to sanitariums in New
Mexico by the government. At this
time there are 900 men at Fort
Rayard, more than half as many at
Fort Stanton, 40 at Murphey's sani-
tar;um in Albuquerque; all under gov
eminent care. Some of them are re-
ceiving compensation, others are still
waiting for their claims to be granted
In these hospitals the arrangement
is such that the men will not begin
to receive training until the disease
is arrested. Ii is hard enough under
the best conditions to stay in a sani-
tarium long enough to make a cure.
If there is any worry about finances,
about family troubles or about the flu
ture, cure becomes a practical i'm
possibility. Many of these men are
leaving before the cure is complete.
When this happens they usually go
directly home. But the first rain or
frost makes trouble and back they
come to New Mexico, usually weaker
and more discouraged than when they
first came. IT is often possible to-
have a man who has once left the hos
pital reinstated where he can finish
the cure; but this is long and COM
p'icated procedure and one certainly
which very few men would undertake
for themselves.
What, now, is the situation? New
Mexico is being filled up with dis
charged tubercular soldiers who bid
fair to become a public charge unless
something is done about It, What can
be done about it? Only the Red Cross
home service has the organization and
the information to handle the prob
lem, and the Red Cross. if properly
supported, can put through the fol-
lowing program:
/. See that every soldier discharged
for disability files claim for COM
pensation, whether he is resident of
New Mexico or not.
2. See that he is given all that he
needs in the way of medical or hes
nital care. In the case of non-resi-
tents, the expense is assumed by the
National Red Cross. The local chap
ter gives the personal assistance, that
is all.
cared for. that he will be relieved of
all anxiety This expense also is as
sumed by the National Red Cross. in
tho case of non-residents. If the mans
family is not here. they are I'M
der the care of the Red Cross
wherever they are.
A. Assist the man to keep up the
payments on his insurance. 1t isl
sometimes even moro necessary to see
that he understands the importance
of not letting the payments lapse.
5. Compensation payments are Of
ten delayed. See that the man does
not want. and help by correspond
erce to adjust the matter. sick man
will often mcgee these things through
lack of energy.
6. Put the man in touch with the
federal board for vocational educa-
ton. Awaken his ambition TO get we'll
and take up a new line of work.
I. Stand by both the man and his
family to see that he does make the
cure and eet back with the best
chance possible for success.
If this program is efficiently fol-
lowed, New Mexico will have a body
of sound well-trained, eager men. al
real asset to the state instead of sick
discouraged indigents who will have
TO he cared for. In either case they
will become citizens of the state af-
ter one years residence here. This is
a problem which is here now. And it,
IS growing larger. Sick men are COM
ing in on every train. The best, if not
the only way to handle it, is to back
UP the Red Cross home service.