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No. 25.

IN SENATE

FEBRUARY 9, 1914.

Thirteenth Annual Report of the New York State Hospital for Incipient Tuberculosis, Ray Brook, N. Y.

To the Legislature of the State of New York:

The Trustees of the New York State Hospital for the Treatment of Incipient Pulmonary Tuberculosis at Ray Brook present herewith their Thirteenth Annual Report.

During the past year the Board has lost the membership of its President, Mr. Martin E. McClary, who resigned in July. Mr. McClary has been a member of this Board for ten years and has been its President since 1907. The Board records its sense of loss of his active interest and inspiring personality and the active social interest that he maintained always in the purpose and inspiration of the hospital.

In July, also, the Board lost the membership of Mr. John R. Shillady, who was at that time appointed Secretary of the newly created Industrial Board of the State Department of Labor. Mr. Shillady's service, though short, was always active and added breadth to the plans and ideals of the work.

Of the 830 applications for treatment, 493 were admitted. What became of the other applicants is detailed in the Report of the Superintendent.

The statistical results of treatment do not vary greatly from year to year, but the rough statement that about three-quarters of the cases have their trouble arrested continues to hold good. The fact that a considerable percentage of these arrested cases have relapses when they return to their previous residence or occupation has led the Board to a consideration of a concerted method with the local authorities to keep the patients under observation for a longer time after they leave the Institution.

While this is possible in the more populous portion of the State it is not always practical in a large number of instances. It is believed that if the method of living that has been taught the patients in the Institution is continued when they return to their homes, a safeguard would be established to protect them, and some local control to this end seems necessary to keep up the morale of the arrested cases. The local dispensaries with their trained visiting nurses are excellent agencies directed to this end.

The weekly cost per capita maintenance in the past year has been $9.27. This has some years been exceeded and other years lesscned, but the lower cost of previous years with increased cost of living cannot hope to be paralleled. ·

It is believed that the work that has been done by trained laboratory assistants during the summer months should be continued. A population of 300 patients under control affords an opportunity for the study of some aspects of tuberculosis that it scems the State might well encourage in an effort to contribute. something toward the solution of the many problems that arise in the study of tuberculosis.

The estimate for maintenance, it will be noted, is based upon an inmate population of 308, and calls for an appropriation of $154,000. The special appropriations that are sought, for the most part, have been asked for before and the arguments heretofore presented continue to hold good. If the property is to be adequately protected from fire, the amount required for the equipment of the Institution with a satisfactory protection system should be appropriated.

The storage of supplies has never been provided for, and, with the increased population, comes to present a more and more urgent need.

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