THE Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium, next to the St. Helena Sanitarium, is the third largest medical institution in the denomination. It was established nearly nine years ago, being dedicated and opened to the public in July, 1896. Its history for the past eight years has been the history of similar institutions which have had to build up a constituency in an entirely new field.
This sanitarium has had the disadvantage of being far removed from the great centers of population. The entire population of the State of Colorado is only about six hundred thousand. Hence the institution has found it necessary to reach out beyond the confines of this State in the building up of its constituency. Far more patients have come during the last few years from each one of the States of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, than from the State of Colorado. The reason for this exists in the fact that the people of these States desire a change of climate in addition to medical treatment. They find that change of climate in the Rocky Mountain region; whereas the people of Colorado, having the climatic advantages already, do not feel the same need of going to a medical institution.
The Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium
The sanitarium has always had a large summer business, sometimes being obliged to turn patients away. During the winter months, however, the patronage has been very low, entailing a heavy loss in the operation of the institution. Slowly but gradually the general patronage of the institution has been increasing. The year 1904 was by far the best in the history of the sanitarium. During that year, in addition to the payment of all running expenses, the institution was enabled to send to the General Conference three thousand dollars upon the interest and investment made in the establishment of the work. The net gain of the institution for 1904 was two thousand four hundred dollars. Upon this net increase, the sanitarium sent to the Mission Board a check for two hundred and fifty dollars, which was applied toward the opening of the work in Korea.
Our workers have all labored with commendable interest, feeling that they had a double incentive for labor: first, the good which might be accomplished by the local work, and, second, the good that may be accomplished by returning to the general work some of the money invested in the enterprise. An effort has been made to keep this missionary idea prominent, that the income in the institution should not be consumed upon our selves, nor upon the institution and the work here; but that other needy fields and other departments of the work just as far as possible should share in our prosperity. And we believe that God has recognized this effort. The winter just closing has been the most successful one in our whole history. Heretofore we have had to borrow money to carry us through the winter months; but this year our income has been such that we have paid all our bills when due, and none of our accounts are in arrears at the present time. I trust that, with the blessing of God, we may be enabled during 1905 to help the general work even more than during the last year.
The sanitarium family is endeavoring to keep before it continually that the great purpose of the work here is not to make money, although that is necessary, but that the sanitarium work is a part of the great work of God for to-day, and that we should stand in our lot and place in the giving of the message, the same as our coworkers in every department of the work; and that in sending to us the people who come here, God will hold us responsible for doing for them all that lies within our power. The Lord gives us encouragement from time to time, in impressing our guests with the truth for these last days, and in leading some to take their stand for the same. Several, during the last few months, have begun the observance of the Sabbath, and a deeper interest has been manifested in Bible study and in listening to the Bible lectures which have been given each week than ever before.
As all may know, the sanitarium for a long time received consumptive patients. During the last few years this class of patients has been isolated, occupying a separate building. Of late the fear and prejudice on the part of our guests have become so great that it has seemed necessary to entirely exclude consumptive patients from the institution and its grounds. Steps doubtless will be taken in the near future to provide a home for those suffering with tubercular diseases, under more favorable conditions than the institution has provided heretofore. In the meantime, until such arrangements can be made, the sanitarium refers all applications of this kind to a private sanitarium for consumptives, which is operated by one of our sisters, a Battle Creek Sanitarium nurse, in the suburbs of Boulder.
The sanitarium has operated, during its entire history, a nurses' training school. This school, we believe, has now reached a higher state of efficiency for the preparation of workers than ever before. There are about forty under instruction at the present time. A class of about twelve will be graduated from a three years' course within the next few months. The freshman class just entered consists of about twenty earnest young men and women.
We feel that the work is the Lord's, and that all the success which has attended it from its inception is through his mercy. The success has come, not on account of the worthiness of the workers, but in spite of their mistakes and failures; and so to God belongs all the glory.
The institution is anticipating a larger number of patients this year than ever before. If any of our brethren and sisters have afflicted friends or acquaintances whom they can recommend to us, we shall appreciate the courtesy. We will gladly quote rates and send descriptive circular matter to any addresses furnished us. FRANCIS M. WILCOX.
