The History of Orange County New York

by Unknown

TUBERCULOSIS SANATORIUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

To the historian of the future the name Otisville will be associated with one of the great sanitary advances made in this country, namely, the establishment, by a municipality, of a tuberculosis sanatorium outside the political limits of that municipality.

The establishment of such a sanatorium was first suggested in 1889. At that time, however, not even a medical sentiment was ripe for such a movement. In the succeeding fifteen years, little progress was made toward a realization of these plans, and it was not until Dr. Thomas Darlington became commissioner of health that any tangible results were achieved. He proved an aggressive and resourceful champion. With political, corporate, and private interests leagued together to prevent the city from acquiring a site, it was largely owing to the indefatigable labors of Dr. Darlington that the most determined opposition to the plan was overcome.

After carefully examining many sites, it was finally determined to establish the sanatorium at Otisville, a little village lying in the Shawangunk Mountains, and about seventy-five miles from New York City. As a southern exposure was desired, the grounds, covering an area of over 1,400 acres, were selected on the southeastern slope of one of the most picturesque and most favorably situated mountains of the entire range. The grounds have an altitude varying from about 800 feet to 1,500 feet above sea level. The sanatorium property consists of what were formerly thirteen separate farms, which were purchased at different times during the years 1905 and 1906, the health department first taking possession for the city of New York on December 1, 1905.

To avoid delay in establishing the institution on a working basis, it was deemed best to renovate and remodel the buildings on the property, and use them until such time as the needs of the sanatorium would require the erection of new ones. By July, 1906, the institution was ready to receive its first patients, and a year after that date had accommodations for about 100.

Since the sanatorium is designed for the treatment of those ill with tuberculosis in the early stages of the disease, there is only a small building for hospital accommodations. The rest of the buildings, in which the patients practically live outdoors, are portable houses and shacks. All the frills and ruffles so universally connected with the construction of public buildings have been omitted; everything has been subordinated to that which is best for the patients.

There are six portable houses, which are set on posts and can be taken apart and transferred to any location desired. The houses all measure ten by sixty feet, and are divided into five rooms. The center room, heated on cold days, is used as a bathing and dressing room, as well as a sitting room in inclement weather. Those on either side are used as bed rooms. Each room has four windows, two of which are always open and so arranged as to avoid all draughts. Each room contains one bed. The two rooms on either end are entirely open on the three sides, a fine screen only enclosing to keep out insects, etc. Heavy canvas curtains are folded in a roll outside, and can be dropped in stormy weather. These end rooms each accommodates two patients, thus making a capacity of six to each house.

In the latter part of 1906 a one-story and a two-story shack were erected for the additional accommodation of patients; and during 1907 two single-story shacks and one small house were built.

The shacks are built in the form of the letter T. The stem of the T consists of a room containing the washstands, lockers for each patient, and toilets and baths. In front of this is a sitting room, and opening from either side of this are the sleeping rooms. The latter are practically only verandas, being open in front and on the side, while for protection against storms and severe winds there is a similar provision to that used on the portable houses; that is, the curtains ordinarily rolled up are lowered, shutting off the verandas from the outside. A single-story shack accommodates twelve patients, six on each veranda. The two-story shack accommodates just double that number, being exactly alike in its two stories.

A feature of considerable importance in an institution of this kind is the manner in which the different patients are segregated. As nearly as possible patients in the same physical condition as well as those who are apt to be congenial are assigned to the same quarters.