New Britain herald., 1925-01-07

Phb ihont Jbobe bt thPipyNu
 ding the state of a nuisance and at
 the same time dealing justly by
 those whose property rights are in-
 volved. T Tuberculosis Sanatoria
 It is a pleasure to bring to your
 attention the splendid record of the
 State Tuberculosis commission and
 the institution under its care. Con-
 nectictut has kept abreast of the most
 progressive spirit of the times in
 generously caring for such of her
 citizens as have been stricken by
 this dread disease. Our fight against
 tuberculosis is as successful as that
 of any other community in the
 world. Other states are beginning
 to realize that our idea of entrust-
 ing the anti-tuberculosis campaign
 to small paid commission and of
 holding that commission responsible
 for doing all that is humanly possi-
 ble to stamp out tuberculosis Is the
 best plan yet devised for this pur-
 pose. It Is interesting to note that in 1S49. the first year for which re-
 liable statistics are to be had, the
 death rate in Connecticut from tu-
 berculosis of the lungs was 276 per
 100000 inhabitants. In the past year 1t was only 7S per 100000 in- habitants. The tuberculosis journals of this country and of England give frequent recognition to the prom thence of our state sanatoria in the matter of research and correct methods.
 Our citizens are particularly in- tercsted In the work being done for children. At the last session of the General Assembly the question came up of enlarging Seaside sana- torium at Mantle. It has front age of 97 feet on q beautiful white beach at the eastern end of Crescent Beach. It was the first state insti- tuition of its kind in America. It uses the power of continuous sun baths to cure bone and glandular tuberculosis. It Is always full. There is a long waiting list, which would be much longer were there any chance of securing the admission of more patients in the near future.
 The curative value of sun bathing and rest Is generally recognized. In Switzerland, in the town where the method started, there are now sana- toria, public and private. that &C., commodate several thousand pa- tients. The Seaside Sanatorium &C., commodates less than sixty. The last general assembly made an ap- propriation of $100,o00 for the erec- ton of new building and of $25,- GOO for the purchase of land. The State Tuberculosis Commission and the state comptroller were directed to acquire such adjacent land as the commission requires. In order to comply with the expressed will of the general assembly the com- mission was obliged to call to its aid the states right of eminent domain. !, In November, 1923, all the papers in 1 the case were handed over to the 1 attorney general, together with the unanimous vote of the commission that it required a strip of land 200 | feet wide and east of the present l property. The property has not yet |, been secured. The states plan for l helping additional scores of children to attain health and happiness has not been carried out. The imme- diate consideration of whatever leg islation Is needed to enable the state to Increase the facilities for caring for these little sufferers is strongly recommended.
 Fire-Proof Buildings.
 One of the greatest sources of !! anxiety with our state institutions is in relation to fire. It would seem wise to adopt definite plan of re- organization and reconstruction so that In the course of time the fire hazard could be largely eliminated and the good name of the state for safeguarding its wards be preserved. Notwithstanding our sincere desire for economy. we must recognize the necessity for making ample provi- sion for the care of those unfor- tunates who are either physically or mentally disabled. In the future, all appropriations for buildings in- tended for the use of the states wards should be large enough to enable the erection of fire-proof structures.
 State Hospitals.
 IL has been well known to the people of this state that for some time past our institutions for the care of mental defectives and those afflicted with mental disease have been over-crowded. Although near ly one quarter of those admitted are eventually discharged. there are two factors which influence the recovery rate unfavorably, namely. the num- Der of those who have been men, tally sick for long period of time and the commitment of aged pa tjcnts. The question arises as to whether the time has not come for the establishment of a state infirm- ary for the care of mild chronic cases of mental disease. such as senile dementia and the like. There are two or three hundred such cases now in our state hospitals. They could be transferred with advantage to a state infrmary if one were in operation, thus releasing an equal number of beds in these institutions for the care of acute cases which need the specialized treatment there provided. In addition, this infirm- ary might also serve as a hospital for the treatment of chronic and incurable physical diseases which our general hospitals can no longer receive, and would increase their ability to alleviate acute cases
 There should be some remedy to stop the ever increasing custom of to our state hospitals for the insane defective delinquents who have committed crimes, or who present conduct disorders" and are