The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-07-23
Some 5000 Soldiers Admitted
to Hospital at 0teen, N. c..
in ~ Months.
DISEASE ARRESTED IN 1900
Quiescent In 1000 Cases, 600 Under
Treatment, While 800 Have Died
Most Efficient Modern Meth
ods Employed.

MISUNDERSTANDING the vast enter
prises which have engaged the atten-
ton Of our government during the asst
few years the physical reconstruction
of our soldiers who saw service
abroad ranks among the first. And
among those who needed the closest
care and attention were service men
who fell prey to tuberculosis.
These victims Of the dreaded white
plngue have been treated by the most
efficient modern methods in the great
army hospitals which arose as If by
magic in different parts of the country.
The work has been carried on unosten-
tatiously, and but little knowledge Of
1t has come to the attention of the
public.
The physical health Of the men
taken into the service had to be gen.
orally excellent, as is quite well I'M
derstoOd. otherwise the medical eX-
aminers would he obliged to reject
volunteer or draftee.
Notwithstanding all the care taken
to select none but sound men. the in
fluenza epidemic resulted in the de-
velopment Of tuberculosis in great
many of our soldiers, as the secondary
result of this acute infection.
In addition. many soldiers who had
been gassed readily became victims Of
the disease. Moreover. the constant
damp and rainy weather in France
would often result in the development
of pneumonia, another ready factor in
nctivating tuberculosis.
While few men got into the army
who already had small tuberculal
LESSONS. these were so slight as to be
passed or overlooked by the examin
ers. However. when such men were
unduly exposed and subjected to the
severe physical work incident to arm,
service. break in the normal stat,
of health resulted.
1t was from these sources, there
fore, that the great majority Of tn,
tubercular patients in the army wer,
recruited. Indeed. many thousands o
soldiers required treatment.
IOI tiiVil NdIC was Hldu
at Otisvllle. n. Y; Denver. Colo. For
Bayard, N. NJ. and Oteen. N. c.. be
sides several smaller posts that hav
since been abandoned entirely o
turned over to the department of pub
lie health.
Two Main Hospitals.
The main army hospitals for tn
treatment Of tuberculosis at presen
are at Denver and Oteen. Unite
States General Hospital No. 10 is tn
one at Oteen. which is near Ashevill,
1t has established a splendid recor
and will serve best as an example
giving brief outline Of the treatmer
Of tuberculosis as it is carried o.. |
the army.
No 10 Is a hospital conducted on
truly gigantic scale. It is town
itself. consisting of more than one hui
bred buildings which cover $40 acre
of land. The money outlay was s.
100000. No. 10 has its own water SUI
ply and sewerage system. The grount
at night are lighted by electricity. ar
are intersected by cement and maca
umized roads. There are two centr
heating plants for the hospital.
The buildings are of wood al
painted. The unit ward system WI
used in construction, which permi
the very sick to he quartered aw,
from those only slightly afflicted. ~
also permits Of more individual ca
where there are only few patients
each building.
More than 1,400 beds were ava