Thompson: The Cardiac Case 



15 



telephone operators in the city. She started into this work when 

 very young, so was unprepared for any other less strenuous posi- 

 tion. Last winter she came to the hospital after a serious attack 

 of tonsilitis, with a heart lesion. She was permitted to go home 

 after a long period of treatment but warned not to do heavy or 

 exciting work. She dared not return to her former position. She 

 has attempted to do other tasks, but has not as yet succeeded in 

 finding one that would give her a good income and not be too 

 hard on her heart. 



CASE D.H. One little boy, a hospital patient, had been edu- 

 cated in the grade schools. He had become greatly interested in 

 engineering. While in the hospital he longed to study about 

 engines and their construction. He died before he was able to 

 accomplish any results in this field. Certainly one with such 

 ambition would have been worth more to the community than 

 |5,000. It would be safer to multiply that by ten and agree with 

 Lincoln that each child is worth |50,000. This would then be the 

 loss to the community by this one death. 



Nummary 



The patient suffering from cardiac disease is often a great 

 expense to the community in which he lives. If by any chance he 

 has accumulated enough money to care for himself after the heart 

 trouble appears he is at least not producing for the community. 

 If, on the other hand, the patient has been unable to put aside 

 enough money to tide him over a time of unemployment, the com- 

 munity must pay for his care and provide for those dependent 

 upon him for a livelihood. 



