Milford chronicle., 1932-11-18
INCREASE IN DEATHS
FROM TUBERCULOSIS
[C0nlinned fr0m FirN Paael

[COHfiHHed from First Pdge]
tion of the figures in the effort to
determine the cause. Undoubtedly to
some extent at least, some of the
effects are due to the economic con-
dition. The State facilities for the
care of it's tuberculosis have never
been adequate. There never have
been beds in sufficient numbers to
accommodate all those who are i'll
from the disease and it was neces-
sary i'll former years for many of
the sufferers to seek accommoda-
tions in other states which they
may have been able to do when
their families were able to assume
the costs of their care in those out
of State institutions. When they
were not able to do so, the patients
were forced to remain in the State;
and if death occurred, the record
was a State record, and not, as here
tofore, shown in the records of an
other state.
"The increase has been due who'll
ly to deaths occurring in that form
of the disease which affects the
lungs or pulmonary system. In. re-
Spect of other forms of the disease,
which very often are the evidence of
infection Iassed to the human sub
iect from lower animals, especially
in the milk of tubercular cattle, it
is noted that there was not only no
Increase but an actual decrease. We
are justified in believing that this is
evidence that the very great pro-
gress which has been made in the
State Of recent years in the eradica-
tion of tuberculosis from the herds
and in safeguarding the milk whicn
is used Tor human consumption.
Another favorable feature was
that the increase took place in re-
spect of the persons of the ages
which indicated that infection had
been present for some time, possibly
for years. There was no increase,
but rather improvement, among the
patients aged from five to thirty
years, the increase taking place in
the ages beyond these. The course
of the illness is apt to be more
chonic and of slower development to
the final termination among the
older persons, and undoubtedly
many of those who died in 1881
were first infected a number of
years ago. That there was not much
evidence of much greater infection
in the younger age groups is ground
for hope that there may soon be re-
sumed the improvement of former
years.
"The increases serves to bring
sharply into prominence what has
been for years one of the weak
nesses in the tuberculosis control
work being carried on in the State,
namely, the lack of beds in the State
sanitoriums. BIandywine sanatorium
can accommodate IS patients. There
are now a waiting list of As persons
who have applied for admission and
who should be there, not only be-
cause they need treatment for them
selves, but because in many instan-
ces they are living under condi-
tions which are distinctly harmful
to members of their families resid-
ing with them at home. In many of
these homes there are children who
are constantly being exposed to the
danger of contracting the disease.
"There is now being constructed
an addition to the State sanatorium
intended to accommodate 80 chill
dren. This it is believed will meet
the requirements for this element of
our population. Up to the present,
however, no arrangements have
l. s,,N, af
any children after the addition is
completed, though it seems impos-
sible to believe that this should be
denied, once the building is ready
for occupancy.
"The county clinic services and
the regular or social work among
the children of the schools of the
State is continually bringing to light
cases for whom hospital treatment
is necessary. If treatment in some
hospital is not provided the cases
will undoubtedly progress to place
them beyond the possibility of cure,
insofar as they themselves are con-
cerned, or to infect others and so
continue the vicious circle.
"These are the conclusions which
anyone will make who considers the
subject, and are the reasons why
the statement is made that the pro-
vision Of more facilities for treat
ment of developed cases of the dis
ease must be provided before more
is possible in the re-
1uction of the loss the State annu-
ally faces"