New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-05-05

or deaths. s255,0oo: cost or funerals,
so,loo; cost of advanced cases, 49,
f8o; total, s1,5i7,1SI. or 56 cases in
sanatoria. the cost to the state. above
what New Britain pays is SIS per
week or s43.6so.
me nurses report is: Cases car
ried over from previous year ESQ.
new cases 142. number OF cases
cared for 422, cases discharged IS.
number OF deaths 81, cases now
under care 32S. cases at sanatoria
March 1. 1891. As. cases sent to
sanatoria 56, cases now at sanatoria
rs, cases supplied with milk 16. reg
ular nursing care given to IS, num-
Der arrested cases /, number ap-
parently arrested cases IL, number
quiescent cases 8, number returned
10 regular occupations 26. number
improved cases 10, number of chill
dren under observation 156, num-
Der calls made by nurse 2,3s1, num-
Der OF calls at Office Az. number
clinics held 6, number patients ex-
amined at clinic ass, number nation
aiities represented 30, number fumi-
cations and rooms ordered removal
ed SO.
During the past year our efforts
have been devoted to the care of the
advanced case. Our records con-
sist mainly OF that type of patient.
This work has been carried on
against innumerable difficulties. both
for the nurse and the family. There
has been great exposure, poverty.
neglect or undue and prolonged
strain upon other members Of the
household. all of which conditions
are contributory causes toward the
disease claiming another victim.
Home supervision cannot be con-
sidered a satisfactory substitute for
hospital accommodation. The nurses
efforts, no matter how thorough and
conscientious, can never remove the
danger. The closest supervision is
inadequate and futile. This. then.
brings us to the great need OF hos
pitfalls for advanced cases.
Effective tuberculosis work must
place emphasis on the control of
the last stage case which is most
dangerous TO society. Our greatest
problem lies in the segregation Of
the advanced case. The waiting list
at the various state sanatoria is al
ways heavy and it sometimes means
months after application has been
made before a vacancy occurs, dur
ing which time the patient has to
be cared for at home with inadequate
accommodation and facilities. There
is little hope OF protecting the chill
dren of a family where a case exists
when we have to wait eight or nine
weeks for n bed in tho infirmary.
Also. the advanced case requires fire.
auent visits to insure adequate super
vision in regard to instructions given,
the nursing care requires a great deal
OF time. Were the problem Of the
care of the advanced case eliminated
from the work. considerable time
could be devoted to educational pur-
poses.
1T would probably cost less to
build and maintain special wards in
connection with the hospital than
to erect and support an entirely new
institution. Furthermore. these wards
would offer good teaching centers
where both doctors and nurses could
acquire a better knowledge of tuber-
culosis. The day Is coming when
all general hospitals VIII be obliged
20, admit tuherculous patients so let
the City OF New Britain lead.
During the past year. the amount
of s5.ss6 was expended on sanatorium
care by the board of health and board
OF public charities.
with our present knowledge. time
and money cannot be better spent
than in the effort to obtain hos
pital care for the advanced case
"The great object of every health
agency is the same, namely, the pre-
vention of disease. This lis done to
some extent by the nurse when she
visits n patient. She points out the
sources of infection to the remaining
members of the family and instructs
the patient how TO care for himself
and protect his family from further
Articles dealing with talks on
on sanatoria and their
value, on tuberculosis specialists
when inserted in a newspaper will
reach a far larger number of people
than any other method.
Now let us take the children.
Our work must begin with the chill
dren. for IL has been proved that
nearly every case OF tuberculosis in
young people can be traced to an in
lection in childhood. Children must
be taught health habits. The ma
tional organization has formulated
such n programme which is known
as the Modern Health Crusade"
More than four million children have
become crusaders. Largely home
work. the crusade links the home
and the school and, reaching beyond
the children. teaches the parents.
"a campaign for the suppression
OF tube eulosis among cattle Is now
being conducted throughout the
This campaign should re-
ceive the hearty support of all anti
4 n ne rct,IoSfa aqxrriatforrx because IL