The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-23
600 White Plague Victims in County
tuberculosis Survey Here Reveals

about ono per cent Of the population Il
afflicted with tho disease. the report
hclds.
Ohio. county has q population OF Co.
S9e, and by applying the same ratio &c
the county, no fewer than go persons
are suffering from the rnalady. Tuber.
culosls clinics OF the survey has LISTED
Sl4 definitely diagnosed cases OF con.
sumption, and 3S2 persons who SHOVE"
symptoms Of tho disease.
Rural Districts Included.
While the survey sought to cover tho
county no intensive study was made OF
conditions in the rural districts, hn,
enough evidence was obtained In the
committees opinion TO Justify the be-
lief that the tuberculosis Is as preraN
ent In the country areas rs In the city
TO back its theory. the survey cites
In the report that So cases or consump'
ton were found In the Tenth ward
which Is typical In many ways OF other
sections farther removed from the urban
centres.
In taking up the lack of facilities for
caring for consumptives the reports
declares that the hospitals here are
without equipment to care properly for
the sufferers. and unless sanitarium
Is constructed nothing can be done OF
nature to relieve the sltua'
ton.
The state institutions arc inadequate
the report says. and the privately opcr'
ated santitoriums are conducted on such
basis as to preclude the entry OF poorer
patients. owing tc the cost.
In stressing It's findings here Mr..
Bloch, in his statements declares:
Even the most superficial study OF
these figures will reveal how grossly
Inadequate are tho resources for the
care care Of tuberculosis. With more
than three hundred known cases OF
tuberculosis in Ohio county and with
hundred moro cases in existence. the
need for adequate and early provision
for sanitorium care cannot ne 100
strongly emphasized. Terra Alta can
not. regardless Of how sealously 1t ex.
a very small percentage OF Ohio county
citizens In need Of such care. During
the course OF the survey. only the most
urgent cases were referred to this sana-
torium. yet the director was aple 20 nc,
cept but two OF the five cases TOT "hoH'
application was made.
The survey executives were constant:
ly harrasaed by the problems presented
through tho discovery OF tuberculous
,S. there were was H1 no, se
ject or province Of the survey to take
relief measures, yet II was constantly
challenged, Now. you have, found l
have t1ssrculosi'-what 1t to DO done
A'' rrisdsiphia Example
Touching on tho county school, the
report says:
At present the district school nurse
at Triadelphia has under her super
vision 2,64S pupils. This Is large mum :.
Der, especially in view Of the fact that
tho nurse has no adequate transports.
top facilities There are c SetTe eSidSeD
who are not provided for by their dis
nurses have weighed and measured
though logically this is a county func-
tion. II tn: city health S dspSf,msn' as
matter Of course, the county school
work would come under Its jurisdiction
II that does not occur It 10 recommeno-
ed that the county school work DO IN
creased by two, nurses.
1nSunanes Company 0tfsd.
Tho Metropolitan Life Insurance com
nany, through It's long and scientific
study Of sickness and health conditions
estimates that in the average popula-
ton 1SoGsS ths s,s,s sss at any HceoFdins
10 this estimate Ohio county has at any;
ono TINA l,2l1 individuals who are II and
in need, Of care. Ohio county has at
present 429 hospital beds for the care OF
It's sick population--the, remainder OF
homes. Some Of these are able to en-
pioy private nurses. Many cannot do
SO and therefore, when sickness enters
tho homo much Of the care must be OF
an unskilled variety.
It = true that as public health nurs-
Ing has taken on educational aspects
the caro- of tho sick as puro relief
measure has become Of diminishing i'm
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