On January 17, 1917 Max Schlund Sr was admitted to Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Battle Mountain Sanitarium was part of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. After the Civil War the Sanitarium was built to provide care was for Union Veterans. According to the National Park Services website, Battle Mountain was "the first and only National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers built solely as a short-term sanitarium for veterans with lung or respiratory problems, not as a long-term home. Unlike the other National Home branches, veterans went to Battle Mountain Sanitarium for brief intensive treatment. Upon completion of their treatment, they were transferred to another National Home branch." http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/veterans_affairs/Battle_Mountain_Sanitarium.html The home was built in Hot Springs because it was believed that the waters had healing properties.
Max was discharged on July 3, 1919. I am curious if the Battle Mountain Sanitarium was a short term facility, why did Max stay there for over 2 years? Not surprising was the listing of Arteriosclerosis as one of his disabilities upon entering the home. The Schlund family has a long history of heart disease and many Schlunds passed away from heart attacks and other heart conditions. I am interested in learning more about the 2 1/2 years Max spent at Battle Mountain. I really find it interesting that he would be so ill that it required such an extended stay, yet he lived 15 more years after he left the facility. Maybe the spring water at Battle Mountain really was healing. I also wonder what life was like for his wife, Minnie, with Max gone to another state for 2 1/2 years? Unfortunately my grandma never talked about Max (her grandfather) going to South Dakota, since it was a few years before she was born, maybe she didn't know about it.
Here is Max's log from the Sanitarium.
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