Evening star., 1940-02-04
Glenn DaIeCribs'
Tiny Burdens Tell
Poignant Story
tuberculosis Education
Funds Needed to Save
Others From Fate
It WAS rest hour.

It was rest hour.
In row after row of cribs the little
ones mapped. raising barely a hump
in the gray blankets.
Under the bed, a tiny shoe had
fallen on its side. Neatly heaped
on chairs beside the beds were the
little dresses, the little suits. A
child smiled in her sleep, her arm
wrapped around a doll that smiled,
toe.
A nurse tiptoed down the long
corridor, peeking into the rooms
where the children slept A little
girl opened her eyes and saw the
passing nurse She raised her arm
and waved. The nurse waved back
because this child, of all the chill
dren there, could use the friendli-
ness of that wave. This child S
other arm and all her little body
down to her legs was incased in a
cast.
Down the corridor the nurse heard
baby crying. 1t was only whim-
per, really, faint, lost little sob.
The nurse hurried to quiet the cry
ing child.
Quiet Necessary.
Quiet was important, quiet and
rest. For under those gray blankets
lay sick children.
1t was the children's ward of the
tuberculosis Sanatoria at Glenn
Dale, Md.
The number of patients varies, but
the other day there were 81 children
in the ward. children who for six
months, a year, or maybe three
years must be separated from their
homes, their mothers, their school.
A recent arrival is a 14-month-
old baby.
Some of the children have pull
monary tuberculosis, the adult type,
the type to which is always ap-
pended "if they live"
Some have tuberculosis of the
bones. Those children must lie on
frames to immobilize the diseased
joints. Some have lain thus for four
years.
Others Have Childhood Type.
The rest of the children have the
childhood type of tuberculosis. Their
glands are affected They can lead
an almost normal life, except when
they run fever Some of the little
boys got too active and now they
must remain in bed, tied to the beds
with strap around their waists
so they won't keep running around.
The ones who can get up eat at
nursery size tables. A bib hangs
on each chair.
There are classes in occupational
therapy. The children can enjoy
themselves weaving, shaping pottery
and hammering tin. And some of
the youngsters have school lessons
each day.
Why are they there? A mother, a
father, sister contracted the
disease and passed it along. An
uncle came to visit-and coughed.
The neighboring child in school was
the bearer.
In the children's ward are three
sisters. The Oldest girl got it and
soon her younger sister followed her
to the sanatorium and now the 12-
year-old youngest child is there, too.
A little girl came to the sana-
torium a few months after her
mother did.
Checkups Could Curb 1t.
IF we could locate all the open
cases, all those expectorating the
organisms, we could prevent it,
said DR.. John NJ Stanley of the
sanatorium staff. IF we could edu-
cate people to check up regularly
on themselves, see if they have the
disease, we wouldn't have all these
children here"
That work of education is now
being carried on by the District o1
Columbia tuberculosis Association
with funds raised by the sale o1
Christmas seals. In addition tt
health education through the USE
of literature, posters, speakers ano
motion pictures before every type
of group. the association makes ar
annual X-ray service available fret
of charge to all fourth-year high
school students; assists in main.
tanning a medical research pro.
gram; operates summer health
camp for tuberculous children
maintains a rehabilitation depart.
ment; contributes funds to the
Health Department for x-ray serv.
| ice and furnishes doctors witt