352 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



An idea of the best results obtained thus far can perhaps be gained by a glance 

 at the following table, copied from the last three annual reports, 1897-98-99, provided 

 the figures are considered together with the classification adopted. Patients who have 

 remained less than three months are put in a separate class, as little can be accom- 

 plished in the way of permanent results while in the institution for so short a period. 



A glance at the table shows the following: Out of 323 patients who remained an 

 average of eight and three quarters months in the institution, 1 13 of whom were classed 

 as incipient cases, 151 as advanced, and 59 as far advanced, 109 were discharged 

 apparently cured, 104 with the disease arrested, 73 improved, 31 unimproved or 

 failed, and 6 died. This gives the best results as yet attained at the Sanitarium: i. e., 

 thirty-three per cent, of apparent cures, and thirty-two per cent, of cases in which the 

 disease was arrested. 



323 PATIENTS WHO REMAINED AN AVERAGE OF 8^ MONTHS. 



Condition of patients when admitted 



Apparently 

 cured 



Disease 

 arrested 



Improved 



Unimproved 

 or failed 



Died 



Incipient cases, 113, . 

 Advanced, " 151, . 

 Ear advanced " 59, . 



82 72.56$ 

 27 17.88% 

 



2 5 

 67 

 1 2 



4 

 43 

 26 



2 



r 3 



16 





 I 



5 



Total, 323, . 



i°9 33-74$ 



104 



73 



31 



6 



If we study the gross results of the twelve hundred patients admitted during the 

 past fifteen years, the result is as follows : 



Twenty-three per cent, were discharged as apparently cured ; fifty-six per cent, 

 were discharged with the disease arrested or much improved; nineteen per cent, were 

 discharged stationary or unimproved ; two per cent, died in the institution. 



I am quite aware that cure in tuberculosis is but a relative term, and that time is 

 the only test of cure, — a test which becomes more and more discouraging as the period 

 of its application lengthens and we become more and more familiar with the relapsing 

 nature of the disease. Nevertheless we have attempted to determine as far as was 

 practicable the permanency of the results obtained, extending over a period of fifteen 

 years to date. Of the 1,176 patients discharged alive about one half are still living, 

 and one half of this number have been heard from as being perfectly well. This pro- 

 portion of one quarter of the whole number covers the entire fifteen years, and the 

 percentage, of course, improves each year as more early cases are admitted. The 

 permanency of the recoveries depends necessarily a good deal on the environment to 

 which the patient returns. If he is obliged to go back to a laborious life or an indoor 

 occupation he is much more likely to relapse than if it is possible for him to return to 

 a good climate and an outdoor existence. 



