Medical Letters
I did try to locate my
medical records from the Cresson san. A call to the Pa State Archives revealed that the san records were shipped to
the archives for permanent storage when the san closed. However, during June of 1972, Hurricane Agnes struck the
Florida Panhandle and moved northward on a track that brought it right through central Pennsylvania. The
resulting heavy rainfall flooded the archive building in Harrisburg
and many records were destroyed, including those for Cresson san.
However, before being sent to Cresson san, I spent three weeks in the Robert Packer Hospital
in Sayre, Pa being diagnosed and starting treatment. A call to the hospital revealed
that they did indeed have my medical records dating back to 1955. I sent them a record release form and received 56
pages of medical data relating to my TB hospitalization there. Most of the data were routine, such as temperature charts,
blood pressure, etc. But included in the data were three letters sent by the hospital explaining my medical condition.
My medical records had been stored on microfiche and the copies sent to me were of very poor
quality and hard to decipher. So I have typed in the text for clarity as well as showing the original letters.
They are as follows:
__________________________________________________________________
#1
(The following letter was written from Dr. Cady of the Robert Packer
Hospital to Dr. Weest of Cresson Sanatorium describing my diagnosis and treatment of TB prior to being sent to the Cresson
Sanatorium.)
April 28, 1955
Dr. Harry W. Weest, Medical Director
Cresson Sanatorium
Cresson, Pa.
Dear Dr. Weest,
You have recently admitted Charles Felton, of Towanda, Pa., a seventeen year old high school
student, who was admitted to our hospital March 22, 1955, with a remarkably brief history of his present illness.
Dr. Tom Johnson, of Towanda, had seen the patient about a week earlier following the development
of a mild sore throat and upper respiratory infection and acute pleurisy with a characteristic friction rub. With antibiotics
and strapping of the chest his symptoms improved considerably, but his temperature
was found to be 104 degrees on March 17 and he had evidence of pulmonary complication, for which Dr. Johnson had him x-rayed
at our hospital. The x-ray, which we are forwarding to you under separate cover, showed marked parenohymal infiltration
involving a major portion of the upper and middle right lung field, together with a suspicious area of cavitation in the right
upper lobe.
We were in hopes that this might all prove to be pneumonia, but laboratory tests quickly proved
the presence of countless tubercle bacilli, as well as monilia albacans. On the basis of these findings, application
for sanatorium care was made and, while awaiting transfer to your hospital, we began treatment with streptomycin and Isoniazid,
together with a high caloric diet, and vitamins by mouth.
The patient's clinical course improved, although his appetite did not increase. He developed
a non-specific acute laryngitis while here, but otherwise was in good condition, and seemed well at the time he left our care.
We shall be interested to know of his clinical progress and will be glad to help with his care
when it is safe for him to return home from the sanatorium.
Sincerely, Joseph B. Cady, M.D.
__________________________________________________________________
#2
(The following letter was written by Dr. Winston of the Robert Packer Hospital to Miss
McGovern, the assistant clerk at the Local Draft Board #34. On the basis of this letter I was classified 4F and consequently
never saw military service.)
April 3, 1958
Miss Patricia A. McGovern, Asst. Clerk
Local Board No. 34
Court House
Towanda, Pennsylvania
Dear Miss McGovern,
I have been requested by Charles August Felton, 115 N. Main St., Towanda, Pa., to give you a
statement about his physical condition. Mr. Felton was a patient at the Robert Packer Hospital in March 1955 at which
time he was diagnosed as having moderately advanced active tuberculosis. He spent considerable time in one of the state
sanatoriums being treated for tuberculosis and this was successfully arrested. He received pneumoperitoneum for many
months in addition to the usual antibiotic therapy for tuberculosis. He was last in the Robert Packer Hospital in July
1957 at which time he had an inguinal hernia repaired. At that time his tuberculosis was well controlled and considered
to be arrested.
He is at present a student at Penn State. He had been followed in the tuberculosis clinic
intermittently and had remained under good control. He is to be considered at present as having moderately advanced
arrested tuberculosis.
Sincerely yours,
Ralph B. Winston, M.D.
__________________________________________________________________
#3
(The following letter was written
by Dr. Winston of the Robert Packer Hospital to Douglas Aircraft Co. as part of my physical exam for employment.)
May 24, 1962
Douglas Aircraft Co.
Lakewood Blvd.
Long Beach 1, Ca.
Dear Sirs,
I have been asked to send you a report about Charles August Felton whose address in Pennsylvania
is 115 N. Main St., Towanda, Pa. This man has just graduated from Penn State University and I understand is to become
employed at your company.
In March 1955, at the age of 17, Mr. Felton was in the Robert Packer Hospital at which
time the diagnosis of active, moderately advanced tuberculosis was made. He was sent from here to one of the state sanatoriums
where he recovered from his tuberculosis and following discharge from the sanatorium he was continued on treatment for approximately
18 months. He made an excellent response to treatment and an excellent recovery and has remained without symptoms and
completely cured since that time. We have followed him intermittently in the State Tuberculosis Clinic here at the hospital
and have always found him to be stationary without any evidence of active tuberculosis.
He is currently taking no medications and we consider this man to be completely healed.
Sincerely,
Ralph B. Winston, M.D.
__________________________________________________________________
#4 (The
following letter was written from Dr. Cady of the Robert Packer Hospital to the Monarch Life Insurance Company in November
1958 to describe my diagnosis and treatment for TB and current status of my health in order to obtain a $1200
life insurance policy.
__________________________________________________________________
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