Maine. OCCUPATIONAL INTOXICATIONS. [Act March 20, 1913.] Sec. 1. "Every physician attending upon or called in to visit a person whom he believes to be suffering from poisoning from lead, phosphorus, arsenic, or mereury, or their compounds, or from anthrax, or from compressed-air illness, or any other ailment or disease contracted as a result of such person's occupation or employment, shall, within 10 days after his first attendance upon such person, send to the State board of health a written notice stating the name and full post-office address and place of employment of such person, and the nature of the occupation and the disease or ailment from which, in the opinion of the hysician, the person is suffering, with such other specific information as may be required by the State board of health." Sec. 2. "In like manner, as is provided in section 1, shall every case of lead poisoning and of suspected lead poisoning, which has resulted from the use of water which contains lead or is suspected of containing lead, be reported to the State board of health, and when such reports are received the said board shall do what it can by laboratory work and otherwise to enable the attending physician to determine whether the case is one of lead poisoning and. if so, the source of the poison." Sec. 3. Failure to report cases a misdemeanor. SEC. 4. State board of health and county attorneys to prosecute all violations. [This digest will be concluded in the next issue of the Public Health Reports.] PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTS VOL. XXVIII. OCTOBER 17, 1913. No. 42. TUBERCULOSIS SANATORIUM, FORT STANTON, N. MEX. A REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1913, OF THE SANATORIUM MAINTAINED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOUS PATIENTS. By F. C. SMITH, Passed Assistant Surgeon, United States Public Health Service. In the Public Health Reports of August 30, 1912, there was published a description of the sanatorium for the treatment of tuberculosis patients maintained by the United States Public Health Service at Fort Stanton, N. Mex. An account of its administration during the year ended June 30, 1912, was given at the same time. Those desiring more information in regard to the sanatorium and its previous work are referred to the above report. The report here presented gives similar information for the year ended June 30, 1913. Minimum number of patients during year. 146 Total number of days treatment furnished patients... Number of patients who left against advice.. Number of patients discharged for causes affecting discipline. The number leaving against advice and discharged for causes affecting discipline was small. This fact indicates among other things a high degree of intelligence and a cheerful compliance with sanatorium rules on the part of the majority. 65,999 75 19 4 1 1, 112 Patients discharged during the year, with stage of disease and results of treatment. Sixty-seven and eight-tenths per cent of the cases are far advanced when received. Those hopelessly sick are encouraged to remain; hence the long average stay of those who died or left unimproved. Of the 47 who died, 10 remained over 2 years, 7 between 1 and 2 years, 12 between 6 and 12 months, and 6 between 3 and 6 months. Six died within a month after arrival, one of these having been here only 4 days. Practically all cases leaving with good results were given employment for several months before discharge to test their arrest and afford means to depart. Ultimate Results of Treatment. Efforts to trace discharged patients reported last year have been continued without gratifying results. To summarize: Out of 1,924 patients whose treatment terminated more than six months are known to be dead, 687 of these having died at this hospital. The location and condition of 853 could not be ascertained. Cause of Death. ago, 951 Forty-seven deaths occurred during the year among patients and two others among tuberculous attendants. As mentioned in previous reports, pulmonary hemorrhage is a frequent cause of death at this hospital. I have not been able to secure data on this subject from institutions at sea level. Deaths from hemorrhage are said to be very infrequent at Fort Bayard, a similar institution at practically the same altitude. The causes of death during the year were as follows: Dental Report. From November until May the station had the services of an excellent dentist. The usual institutional work and, as will be seen from the above report, some work not usually included in such was rendered free to the patients. The position is at present vacant, which is a matter of regret, as the presence of a dentist is constantly necessary. Routine examinations of the teeth were made by the dentist every two months, and such prophylactic measures as were necessary instituted. This procedure is extremely valuable and should, I believe, constitute a part of the routine treatment of tuberculous A carefully regulated dietetic-hygienic regimen is followed. Rest in bed is enforced in febrile cases. Tent houses are not assigned until after at least four days' observation in hospital. Exercise is not allowed, except tent-house routine, during the first month, and as most of our cases are far advanced, the majority never attain |