Thompson: The Cardiac Case 



35 



Statistics gathered from the cardiac patients who are still 

 living show some very interesting facts. The question often 

 arises as to whether the care of any physically handicapped is 

 a city or state problem. The cases are usually discovered in the 

 city, so are unloaded on the city for care, but where did thcj 

 come from originally? Many patients referred to this Depart- 

 ment have been brought up in the small town or countr}'. They 

 have appeared in the dispensary and because they came from 

 places of work in the city, the city was forced to give them treat- 

 ment regardless of their birthplace. Many that came to the 

 Robert W. Long Hospital for care came from the country or 

 small town and returned there after being dismissed. Those who 

 entered the City Hospital for care have had a record similar to 

 the dispensary patients. Some patients due to the stress of city 

 life have drifted back to the smaller town, but this has been rare. 



CASE W. One patient has left the city to go to a smaller 

 town within the last year. He has been gone only a few months, 

 so may return. 



CASE C.T. Another has at different times gone to the smaller 

 towns, but is at present back in the city accepting the free med- 

 ical treatment offered here. Some were found who did not know 

 the place of their birth. They were members of those constantly 

 moving families. Definite information concerning place of birth 

 was obtained from 70 of the 99 cardiac patients reported to the 

 Department that are living. 



PLACES OF BIRTH OF SEVENTY CARDIAC PATIENTS 



City 17 



Small town 19 



Country • 19 



Unknown 15 



Total 70 



If the 38 born in the small town and country could be cared 

 for by their own community or the state at large, the problem 

 of the city would be about one-third what it is at present. If 

 these facts were more generally known, the "stress of city life'" 

 would not be given the credit for so many breakdowns. 



The statement has been made by the Department of Health, 

 of the City of New York, that there are now not less than 20,000 



