Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-19
2DENVER'S
TUBERCULOSIS
PROBLEM \
rnCnrn1o Ty8cHyN
~ INVER, Colo, Aug. ia
campaign to induce persons
/ J having tuberculosis and no
IN efo non.
By FREDERIC ]. HASKlN

~ 1NVER, Colo, Aug. 15.-A
campaign to induce persons
J having tuberculosis and no
funds to stay away from Dem
yer is now being vigorously waged
let's explaining why such persons
are much better off at home are be-
ing scattered broadcast throughout
the country by the Denver Anti
tuberculosis society, and physicians
in every state are being asked to
cooperate in checking the perpetual
rush of INDECENT lungers for the
Queen City.
A few years ago, the United States
public health service, which made
an investigation here, estimated that
at least 400 tuberculous persons
year, and that the number is in
taken idea, still widely. prevalent in
the east, that climate alone will cure
tuberculosis, when, as mat
ter OF. fact, climate is an unimpor-
door sleeping and good food. And
of these latter facilities Denver has
practically none to offer free of
charge.
course, with the idea of maintaining
themselves by doing light work. but
to find such work, or work of any
kind for person with active tuber-
demand is always many times great
er than the supply. Hence, the av-
erage case proceeds about like this:
A Hunger arrives with from $50 to
500 in his pocket. He is unable to
find work, so he seeks a cheap lodg--
in order to make his small capital
last as long as possible. In this
way he may manage to exc out
miserable existence for two
months or more, at the end of which
time he is much worse than when
he came and farther than ever away
from work. With his money gone,
he is thrown upon the charity of
Denver, which must either take care
of him or send him home.
In addition to these pathetic cases,
nearly every train brings one or two
persons who are in the last stages
of tuberculosis, for whom there is
no possible hope Of recovery, but
who have spent nearly all their
reach Denver before it is too late.
For these unfortunates, about to die
and in need of immediate hospital
care, Denver also has practically no
facilities.
Accommodations Are Few
sanatorium here. The best that the
city has to offer it's own tubercular
victims is a few beds-thirty-fiv
or. so-in the county hospital, used
chiefly for the far advanced cases
situations. care for patients at rates
ranging from $40 to $3.50 a month,
with very few beds at the low fig
ure, and there are also many cheap
tubercular homes, accommodating
patients at from $40 to $50 a week,
10 VIII
care. They usually consist of old
fashioned houses, to which several
sleeping porches have been hurriedly
attached and crowded with beds.
g For the care of persons without
funds there are a few very good in
situations which doubtless ably met
me situation some years ago, but
which are now hopelessly inadequate.
Among these are two free Jewish
san1tariums. with a capacity of $50
percentage of Gentiles. Patients de-
string to enter these must apply
from. their place Of departure, and
await notification before coming
to Denver The waiting lists are al
ways long, and it is usually months
before an applicant can be admit
ted.
There is also the Craig Colony, a
small institution housed in tents on
a level, shady stretch Of ground To-
"a CAAO VI In6 Guy,
and maintained by tag days and other
forms of public subscription. This
colony, established by an early Dem
yer Hunger named Craig, is for in
digent tuberculous men:
Among the better pay institutions
Is the Agnes Memorial Home for
Iubeculosis victims, built by Senator
PnlppS to the memory Of his mother
where patients are cared for at rates
ranging from $1S to $50 a week. This
Is acknowledged to be one Of the
hnest tubercular sanitariums in the
vest, if not in the entire United
States. 1t specializes in training
persons with tuberculosis how Ito
take care Of themselves, and each pa
t1ent is discharged at the end Of
year upon the supposition that he
or she has obtained all the benefit
the sanitartum has to offer.
Various small sanitariums with
moderate rates are also maintained
by church organizations of Denver.
There is the Oaks Home, an Episco-
pa. institution, and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church supports a house
full Of tuberculous patients at rates
ranging from $45 to $50 a month.
The Dutch Reform Church has a very
attractive, spotless sanitarium, too,
reminding one of the far-famed
is extremely moderate. being only IS a
week, but it accepts only the affiict-
ed members of its own denomination.
Denver Is Unprepared
From this brief outline of Denver's
tuberculosis facilities, it may be
seen that the city is in no position
to receive the large number of i'm
pecunious tuberculous persons who
insist upon coming here. 1t isn't that
Denver is inhospitable. It is just
| that it Is unprepared. AS the health
| authorities point out, If climate alone
1Nff
| would welcome them, not only for
| humanitarian reasons, but because of
| the debt she owes to the tuberculous
who have come here with sufficient
| funds to regain their health and who
have helped to make her what she is.
| Many authorities agree that cure
| is facilitated by adding a favorable
climate to the essentials already
mentioned-good food, rest and prop
| err care-but these should be obtained
! first. There are many free san1tar1-
| ums providing them in the east, SO
| that the easterner contracting tuber-
culosis is fleeing his best chance OF
recovery when he passes up his home
| facilities and stakes his all on the
Colorado sun and altitude.
| That the Denver climate has fall
| en- down on it's job in graduating the
disease is evidenced by recent status
| tics gathered by the Anti-Tubercu-
| Iosis society, which show that the
percentage of cures Is much larger
! in Pittsburg than it is In Denver.
Moreover, Denver is now facing the
| dtsuuieting fact that its own native
death rate from tuberculosis has IN
creased 20 per cent during the past
| few years.
URGE SOLDIERS BACK TO FAEN
What has become of the American
| Youths who left homes and farms In