THE STATE TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATIONS 79 



The tuberculosis problem in Arizona is peculiar in that the 

 state is widely known throughout the world as a health resort 

 for the tuberculous. A very considerable percentage of the 

 population have tuberculosis or have come to the state because 

 of some member of their family who has the disease. 



The migratory indigent consumptive is everywhere present 

 and presents a serious relief and health problem. The paucity 

 of population also, combined with the fact that much of the 

 wealth of the state is controlled by individuals who have their 

 business headquarters outside of Arizona, has made it very 

 difficult for a State Association to get a firm foothold. 



In spite of these obstacles, however, local centers have been 

 developed in Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott, and other cities, and>at 

 the present time there is an increasing amount of institutional, 

 nursing, and dispensary provision for indigenous tuberculosis as 

 contrasted with the institutions that are in existence purely for 

 the care of private cases largely from outside of the local com- 

 munities in which the sanatoria are located. 



The state association has conducted a public health survey in 

 cooperation with the State Board of Health and has stimulated 

 the establishment of the Modern Health Crusade and the em- 

 ployment of full-time county health officers. 



There are at present 35 public health nurses working at full 

 time. Ten years ago there were no nurses of this character in 

 the state. 



The problem of tuberculosis in Arizona may best be visualized 

 by a report of a survey in Phoenix of 481 tuberculosis cases. 

 Fifty-seven of these cases were absolutely indigent, 82 were 

 receiving some support from relatives, friends, fraternal organiza- 

 tions, or other groups, and many of the patients were working 

 when they should have been resting. Fifteen were tuberculous 

 husbands supported by their wives. Thirty-three were living 

 upon savings which were rapidly being exhausted. Most of the 

 patients had been sent to Arizona by eastern physicians and 

 social agencies. The majority of them at the time of arrival 

 were in an advanced stage of the disease, and without sufficient 

 funds to provide for proper care. 



The headquarters of the Arizona Anti-Tuberculosis Associa- 



