Evening journal., 1921-07-13
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1921
GENERAL HOSPITALS ANp I. B. PATIENTs

GENERAL HOSPITALS AND Il. Is. fAite.Nic
rENIE opening OF wards N general hospitals for tueer
IL culoss patients, recommended by the American
Medical Association its recent annual meeting in Boston
viii it is believed by the United States Public Health
Service be Of enormous benet not only to most Of the
two million known victims Of the disease In the United
States but also to OF others in whom the dis
ease is incipient and easily suppressble, II promptly
treated.
tuberculosis in this stage is d1cult and often i'm
possible Of positive diagnosis, even by an expert; and
many persons even when told by their family doctor that
their case is suspicious" and that they should take pre-
cautonary treatment fear the stigma Of an svo"ed to-
berculosis hospital put of action until recovery has
become Ions and diflcult
In general hospital the diagnosis viii not be made
public and the family will be embarrassed but at the
same time all necessary precautions can be taken to avoid
danger OF infection to others.
The resolution was prepared and recommended by the
National tuberculosis Association IN 1916; its approval
now by the American Medical Association shows very
marked change in medical treatment
In support OF the policy II is argued that in many
small cities two hospitals general and hIber-
culosis. be run only at loss, but il combined, would
pay operating expenses, especially tho combined hos
ptal would draw many secret tuberculosis Many
general hospitals could easily enlarge their facilities by
fitting up wards, roofs porches and unused openair
spaces and thus provide greatly needed space for ber-
culosis patients both former army and civilians
The routine treatment Of tuberculosis patients in all
general hospitals, instead Of at present IN only sbou
one-eghth OF those in ecouniry should enable people
In moderate circumstances to obtain preliminary treat
IN their home instead Of being forced 10 90
without to go to resorts Such preliminary treatment
would habituae the patient 10 the regime essential his
and to the protection Of others and would enable
him to go back to his home and get well under home
treatment he probably would not done without
such training.
Visits to the hospital will also famharize members Of
the patients family with sanitary precautions such the
sputum cup, which commonly horrines them soon
given up by home patients
Visits by the family physician to his patient the hos
pila would familarize him with the treatment and en-
able him TO diagnose other cases much earlier It would
also enable him to supervise later home treatment Oh
both this patient and others At present although uber-
culoss is the most Of all serious diseases its
treatment is neglected because general practitioners are
IN the habit Of sending their patients away.
In Short the result Of opening the general hospitals Il
tuberculosis patients will It is believed be very largely
preventive and will thus be in line with the medioa
tendency OF the day. which is looking more and more Il
prevention instead Of to cure.
one OF the interesting questions whioh this recommen
daon raises however, the effect Of its adoption upor
Institutions Ike Hope Farm, near our city, which devot
themselves exclusively to the treatment Of tuberculos
and which in many Instances even under exstin
conditions, in financial straits much Of the time an
making repeated and urgent appeals to sympatheti
public for help.