The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-19
TREATMENT BY
U.S.ST0PS TOO
SOON, is CLAIM
Hospital in the Northwest
Declared Need by the
Legion
TUBERCULARS' STATUS
w. r. krOll, Representing Ma
tiOnal Legion, Urges Treat
ment Closer Home

Complaint OIL Legion representa-
tives of treatment of tubercular pa
tients in the Northwest district is
chiefly because the government often
stops the treatment at "the most crit
i1al time in their battle for health"
William T. krOll, national represen-
tative of the American Legion in the
Minneapolis office of the Veterans
Bureau, said here today while with
Veterans Bureau party. He came
here from Minneapolis where he at
tended meeting of Legion represen-
tatives from Montana, the DakOtas
and Minnesota in conference with Di-
rector Frank, T. Hines and other of
the Veterans Bureau. Five of the
leading medical specialists of the
country have advised the Legion, he
said.
"The records of the Y. S. Veterans
Bureau will disclose that more than
$500 men in the 10th district are suf-
fering from, tuberculosis as a direct
result of exposure and gas from serv-
ica during the war;" Mr.. Kroll said.
"OAf this number 221 are North Da-
kota boys. Seventy of these are un-
dergoing training under the Veterans
Bureau, only six Of them being
treated in North Dakota; 3S are hos
pitahzed in general hospitals in Min
neapolis, instead of properly con-
structed sanitariums, Al are being
CARED for in l2 hospitals in the south,
thousands of miles from home. The
balance are at home principally be-
cause they wish to be near home,
and in most instances because the
bureau has discharged them as soon
as possible to MAKE room for the
more serious cases who must have
beds. This only means that these
men were sent home year or six
months before it would have been
good policy both from a social and
medical standpoint to let them go.
The Bureau now finds that great
share Of these men are rapidly be-
coming worse and are applying for
further hospital care"
Become Dissatisfied.
Mr.. krolI says his contact with
tuberculars has shown him that men
sent thousands of miles from home
are dissatisfied, and beg to be allowed
to return to friends and relatives.
Often, he said, when a veteran is
ailing he applies to the Veterans Bu-
reau for compensation. The doctor
suspects tuberculosis and sends him
to Il hospital for 10 to 80 days obser-
vation. If no tuberculosis is found
he is returned to his home. If tuber-
culosis is found he usually is sent
to government hospitals in Mime
apolis, which are not especially
equipped for the care Of this class of
disease, usually is put in bed for 80
days:
"'He is declared to be quiescent,"
Mr.. Kroll said. "He is then supposed
to be in an ambulatory status and
receives his clothes. This is where
the government now stops his treat
ment and sends him to his home for
the purpose of making room for
oahcr bad patients. More than 1,400
men in Montana, Minnesota, North
and South Dakota have been sent
home in this condition, which is the
most critical time in their battle for
health.
Treatment Close Home.
"What should be done? The gov
ernment should Immediately build
convalescent hospitals within 500
miles of the mans home, where they
can place him under the care of ex-
perts. He should continue in bed
in such center from three to six
months until his condition becomes
apparently arrested, after which he
should continue under this care, be
allowed freedom around hospital
grounds and given ANEW hours ex-
ercise each day under trained SUPER
visiOn-at the end of three months
this can be increased and at the end
of six months the man can be return
ed home, to take training or do some
light work. In no case should man
endeavor to do full days labor
for at least two years, or the chances
are that the disease will re-occur
and he will again be obliged to en-
ter hospital, and the chances for
recovery after a second breakdown
lare very remote. If ffter a period
of five years, there is no further
tuberculosis activity, then one can
say that the disabled man is appar-
emily cured"
Mr.. Kroll declares the Legion felt
tthat Director Hines was poorly ad-
'vised on the situation in the four
states, in stating that he did not care
to promise Northwest hospital be-
cause of lack of funds, and that he
could not see the need Of an addi-
tional hospital.
= The Legion, Mr.. Kroll said, is on
record as declaring facilities for car
ing for tuberculars In the Northwest
is inadequate, and a hospital is need
ed. The Legion, he said. is going to
fight until it is obtained.