Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-09
VIENNA MAKES A PLEA
Austria, Greatest Sufferer In the
World From tuberculosis, is
In Danger Of Losing its
Greatest Sanatorlum

which all medical students bent their steps,
And today, though it is bowed under the
weight of affection, though 1t bears the bur
dens Of the sins Of men In high places. 1t 10
still looked upon with veneration and es-
teen by men of the medical profession on
account of its former leadership and the
debt they owe to 1t.
The fact was brought home to DR.. Law
when he received from DR.. Heiman
Won Schroettcr, director OF the Austrian
Sanatorium Alland, of Vienna. a letter tell
ing Of conditions at the institution and con =
tanning plea for help.
Perhaps DR.. Flick met DR.. Won Schroeder
in Vienna in 1907 /: but assuredly he had met
his father, DR.. Leopold Won Schroeder, had
known him well long before that time and
respected him highly.
In 1907 Or. Flick was elected president
Of the International Congress of Tubercu.
losis, and his work since that time has had
international prominence.
" A SSUREDLY, the scientific world owes
n debt to Vienna" said DR.. Flick yes =
terday. and undoubtedly scientists every
to its relief at the present time. Nearly all
of the older men of the profession in this
country and very many Of the younger men
who have received medical training outside
of the United States had part of that train e
ing in Vienna. There are scores of such men
in this city.
'Of all the countries in the world Austria
has been the most afflicted by tuberculosis.
and II now has probably the largest death
rate OF any country in the world. partic-
ulary sad feature of the case Is that just
when Austria. was beginning its scienti ifc
campaign against tuberculosis, a campaign
Of which the Sanatorium Alland was the
main spring, 1t was paralyzed by the war"
THE letter received by DR.. Flick is written
L in German. It is letter by one
doctor to another and Il must be confessed
that the writer lacks the unfamiliarity with
his subject which would have given It heart
interest. Little dramas become common :
places to man who meets them every day.
Consequently there are many details that
would have given the subject a thrill or two
that have been left untouched But back OF
the bald statements of fact one can readily
picture the hard work done under trying cir
cumstances, the sufferings and privations
of doctors and nurses and patients and the
tragic stories Of those who died and who are
dying for lack Of the attention they need
all the things that have crowned the plain
facts with an earnest, almost fearful plea.
FOLLOWING is free and somewhat con e
1 densed translation Of the letter received
by Or. Flick:
President, International Congress of Tu-
'Sir-Since I have been intrusted with
the management of the Austrian Sanatorium
Aland, ! avail myself of the following op-
portunity to seek your interest and sym
pathy.
Many threads bind you not only with the
most important medical and scientific soci-
cites, but also. through your philanthropic
activities in European movements. have
brought you in contact with influential
tmo,neyed men in your home country: So. I
addressing myself to the right people
The Sanatorium Alland. established by
my father. Leopold Won Schroeder. the old.
est public sanntorium on the continent which
at all times sought to further the scientific
side OF the investigation Of tuberculosis. finds
itself in such an unfortunate position that
there is danger of the institution having to
be closed. in spite of repeated efforts at
seeking the means Of keeping 1t open. The
private society which managed the nstitu-
tion until recently has completely exhausted
it's financial means, and resources from the
care of patients and from other avenues arc
on account of the very great advancement
In the cost of living and Of material of all
kinds and the increase in taxes not sufficient
to cover the ordinary expenses; and the state
is not able to supply its needs.
Sanatorium Alland since its establish
ment has in recent years been much en-
larged, so that 1t now has pavilion for
men, a pavilion for women, q smallcr ma
vilion for children and, at the present time
also, n building for those who were injured
in the war, besides administration hriiG;nss
and a power house. In addition 10 tbese
there are three farm buildings in the center
OF fine meadows and surrounded nv folds ond
woodland. The institution, counting eml u
ployes and patients, has about 400 people
sixty of them children. N>'''''
1.-THE number of officials and emnIovcs
ranges from $50 to 200, according to Cir
cnmstshces. Inc number Of cattle include
20 milch cows, quite naturally too few six
pair Of draft oxen. four horses and nm auto
mobile truck. For conveyance of indiyid .
uals and OF patients there can, for the pres.
ent, be no transportation by vehicle.
1.-THE sanatorium is situated in one 10 81.
prettiest parts Of lower Austria surrounded
by green meadows and a varicgated forest
In order that this institution NAV nor bo
lost for scientific investigation and for tho
relief OF the poor OF our large country II 10
necessary to make an appeal to those livino
outside of our own country
Just at the present moment when thcre
is such kind international feeling il oyer
the world and especially from the United
States, which in most self sacrificing ma n -.
ner has so generously come to the r"liaf y.
Austria in SO many ways, the UNDERSIGNED
appeals to your generous interest thet yor
may in the circles of your humane friends
of great hnancia means bring about heir
in order that the Sanatorium Aland NAV &c
on with its work The amount which yoriJ
be necessary to place the sanatorium ''s on
| footing that would save il and enable II ~
carry on its work is $50, 900 of your money
Your humane circle and the gcneroI,
| people who come in contact with you couIt
! in this way be able to save an institutioT
! which was established for the treatment ~
tuberculosis in Vienna and which is 50 nec
ssssry ssy,r here not not only in the fight asains
An institution like this being for the pconIe
and for the poorest people at that, appeai
| to the generous.
'As to the technical side Of my appenI IN,
| manner of control of money Contributed
perhaps the most practical and satisfactor,
way would be to give the money to the nj,
society which has had charge Of the Sana
torium But for the present we are mos
concerned about saving the institution m,
the details as to how it Is to be done mieh
be left for further consideration.
| Kindly pardon me for this long commu,
ication. but it Is in the interest of an in
| stituton Of the most far. reaching i'm
portance. | have long hesitatcd to addrcs
you, but the thought has come to me thu
with the kind and intelligent interest q
your people our institution might possibly
saved and this has given me the courage :
write to you and make my appeal.