The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-11-03
Measures Are Needed
Against tuberculosis
Secretary Of State Health Board
Says Colorado Has About
$4,000 Active Cases.

The time has come for Colorado to
take adequate measures to meet ana
control its peculiarly individual prob
/ lem of tuberculosis, according to Dr.
r. l.. Drlnkwater, secretary of the
state Board of Health. DR.. Drink
1 wafer pointed out the seriousness Of
the matter in an interview recently
/ when he declared that the latest fig
ures compiled by his board show that
there were 2,030 deaths from tubercu-
losis alone in Colorado last year. He
estimates the number of active cases
of tuberculosis in this state today to
be approximately $4,000 with about
The same number of inactive cases.
'The tuberculosis problem in Colo
rado," said DR.. Drinkwater, has GER
tain peculiar features distinctly its
own We know that a great many
persons suffering from tuberculosis
come to this state every year because
of its wonderful climate and altitude
tions of the country are added to
those developed here we do not know
definitely, although the Colorado Tu-
berculosis Association, as part of
the splendid work 1t is doing, Is now
making a survey of the INDECENT mi
yratory cases of tuberculosis which
have come within the view of lnstitu-
tions in Denver, Colorado Springs and
Grand Junction. The result of this
survey will give us a definite idea of
the number Of persons who come from
other states in the hope of regaining
their health and then drift to one Of
these cities, where eventually their
funds fail them and they turn to char
table institutions for help.
MANY Of these unfortunates, who
might have been saved If they had
stayed at home and secured admission
to a hospital there, come to Colorado
without funds and exc out an exist
ence until final breakdown compels
them to come for treatment to some
public institution. Only too often they
are In such condition that they can
there any hope for them when they are
IN that stage. There are from 80 to go
IF such cases in the Denver County
Hospital at all times. remember that
one night when 1 happened to be at
the County hospital, seven of these un'
tortunates died.
EVERY one of these persons who is
unable to pay for treatment and who
is avoiding the welfare institutions for
fear that ne may be sent back to his
home in some other state is source
of infection and adds to the increase
of the disease here. I believe that II
Colorado had an adequate system OF
reporting these INDECENT, or nearly in
digent cases, and a definite plan of
returning them to their places of ori.
gin, the lives Of many of them might
be prolonged and the state saved at
least 100000 year.
General education Of the public In
regard to the nature of tuberculosis
and the rules of hyglenic living where
by its spread may be checked is neces.
sary. Fortunately there is vigorous,
effective work done along this line by
the Colorado tuberculosis Association,
a private organization of public-spirit
ed men and women, who have been
educating people throughout the state
oy means of public health nursing
service, clinics, school examinations
and the introduction of the Modern
Health Crusade into the schools of SO
counties. When the time comes that
the State Board of Health is in po-
sitfon to take up anti-tuberculosls
work in the way 1t should. we shall
oe able to give the Colorado Tubercu.
.osis Association the cooperation ii
deserves in its present single-handed
sigh; against the disease"