The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-09-13
WAR VETS FACE
GRIM SITUATION
PA Men ON Home Treatment, Face
Death Unless They Get
Proper Care.
How would you like to die?

How would you like to die?
Foolish question, isn't il, but just
suppose, for a moment, that you
didn't have any choice in the mat
ter, suppose you'd been feeling sort
of down and out, that the old per
was gone, and that every day when
you went to work, found yourself
wishing that, somehow or other, you
could get away from everything and
every body and get to feeling like
yourself again.
Finally, in desperation, o de-
cided to see the doctor, and after
looking you over, he tapped his pencil
on his desk thoughtfully ,gazed wor-
riedly at the floor for a moment, then
turned to you with a paiLed, serious
lok and said solomnly:
"My friend, l hate to tell you, but
you have tuberculosis. You may live
a month Or you may hang on for a
year. You can't possibly last any
longer, unless-unless you go to a
sanitarium and get proper care and
treatment from experts. IL you do
this, you stand more than an ever
chance of getting altogether WELL"
Remember, we're supposing that
this is you. Life is pretty dear, after
all, even when you're not feeling tip
top. And the doctor has told you
that your life hangs ON just one
thread. Then, sudtl My you think Of
your wife, your family, your business.
why" you protest. my home and
my work are in South Dakota.
can't afford to go to New Mexico or
CpInra1n nr Naw I'm nd For fraaf-
ment."
The doctor shakes his head. He is
sorry for you, but:
You have heard what / said. There
is no alternative"
The State S%anitarium at Custer!
There's your 'chance-but it's full!
1t would be a pretty grim situation
wouldn't it?
Probably such a situation will new
err confront you but it stands face to
face with 244 service men in South
akota today. There are that many
known cases of tuberculosis on home
treatment in this state among the men
VINO made up our fighting forces dur
ing the great a
They can't be Accommodated at the
state %sanitarium because of inadequate
facilities. Many have been shipped
to far away place for treatment, but
most of them can't go so far because
Of their families. and those who do
are handicapped by inconsistencies and
melancholy, which DR.. r. E. Wood
worth, superintendent at Custer, says
are two of the greatest enemies to
They gave their lives. Won't you
lend your dollars"
This was a slogan which helped
put over the Liberty loans in the days
of 1917 and Is. These men did not
give their lives on the battlefield, but
they came home the victims of dread
disease which is slowly but surely
sapping away what vitality they have
left and which will finish its unrelent-
ing job unless its victims are given
a chance to fight back.
They cant fight back alone. They
must be shown how, in a place where
experts can guide them and where
climate makes the combat possible,
The American Legion auxiliary
through its posts all owe the state.
will endeavor on Sept. 81 and % to
raise 100000 which, added to- the
$4,000 already obtained will make
possible the erection of a veterans
ward at the state sanitarium. There
under the care of DIR. Woodwork
tubercular service men will be able
to win back their health and return
once more to the gainful occupations
which they have been forced t.
! abandon.