The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22

How Patients Are Treated at = sanitarium
in the Black Forest.

From the St Louis Globe Dsmserdt.
At the end of a drive OF about ten miles in
Of the most beautiful of the Black Forest valleys,
suddenly at turn OF the road there comes into
view the famous Nordach sanitarium for the
of consumption Some one has said very truly
that any who died of disease below the da
phragm, spends the days of his illness in gloomy
despair, with little hope Of recovery in this world
and much foreboding to the after life But
very different the feelings of those who suffer
from troubles that have their origin in the chest
cavity. And very eagerly does the poor cough
tired mortal grasp at the straw held out TO him
in the information that the dread disease from
which he suffers may be cured The very nature
Of his malady makes him optimistic and the
first glimpse OF the two STORED building of pine
wood. in the midst Of the forest gives him thrill
of happy anticipation II is big building that
he first sees thatrem him Of the Noah arks
of his childhood days II seems to be all win
dows. and during the year they are only closed
in the most severe weather The willing. eager
patient shvers little as he thinks of the warm
furnace hea ted rooms to which he has been
toned
The valley is over $50 feet above the sea level
and is protected from the winds of the north by
high mountains whose sides are covered with
dark. odorous pine trees. To the south and south
west it is open that the warm winds may have
try may be seen here and there in the distance,
and beautiful, indeed. is the view spread out be
fore one hill, valley and mountain side, and the
only more perfect by the quiet over all, the soft
silence unbroken except for the hum and whirr
Of nature Winding paths intercepting the wide
pitals In different parts of the valley are these
houses which contain onlybedrooms
The Speise Saal is the large building, and
about five minutes walk from II is the second
Of also es I'D
is the Anstalt, which is the Noahs arklike place
one sees first Another building is small Cath
the distance is too great to walk 10 the nearest
place Of Protestant worship the inmates content
themselves with occasional services, when a min
lister is among the inmates For hygienic rea
sons, such gatherings OF the inmates are dis
couraged,
Presently the inmates appear, walking 30 slow
ly that one concludes at first that there must be
some disease of the locomotor muscles prevalent
and the gait at which one proceeds indicates the
degree OF recovery. The only person who walks
with the swing and the stride OF other men is the
doctor
The first interesting event at the cure" is, the
invitation TO the dining room. This is long
hall, with the table the full length Of it, arranged
very tastefully and situated in thorough draught
In fact, there are no windows in the frames during
brown. happy faces OF those seated around the
table one can scarcely realize that only a short
the beds in the hospital which no one is allowed
10 leave until he has conquered by rest, good
food and fresh air the consuming fever and has
maintained normal temperature for some time.
Besides German and English. there are many
other nationali,ies at the board. There is the
Swedish, Norwegian Danish and American,
and the best Of good fellowship prevails, each
being dependent on the others for cjmpanionship.
The topics Of the day as lively source Of in
tcrest as in the haunts Of the more fortunate Al
every plate is glass, holding about pint Of milk,
and this must be drunk by the patient, the per
sisten little serving maids insisting and refusing
anything else until the doctors orders have been
carried out 1t is useless to try to bride them,
although the story goes that man with camera
once succeeded in getting exemption upon the
day, however, she was as nsistcnt as ever. The
great object aimed at was the proper proportion
the quantity taken. which varies from three To
six German pounds q day for each patient, in
Guiding liquids. and this seems excessive TO those
thing light like chicken broth MEMORABLE as
,he doctor is, he Is also exceedingly kind; and il
encouraging. and, in fact, almost feeding those
tor, weak to submit willingly to the heroic diet
is III" utST disregard q the PseDs for rn Weather.
and the fact that they will venture out even in
the rain, without wraps There is no rule in this
respect but a sort OF unwrltten law which makes
the aticnt soon lay aside all wraps There is not
aG'eat amount Of walking done, and rapid walking
is forbidden, but the patients lotcr about or sit
and watch the villagers on their way to church
or to work, and, above all rest
Monday is weighing day" at the hospital, and
every one in his turn takes his place in the weigh
| ing chair, and as he keeps his own count decides
whether he has lost or gained during the week.
|
| ment for the next week shall be with reference to
the amount of exercise and the quantity Of food
| taken
! For breakfast there is coffee tea bread butter
! eggs, bacon, meat and the inevitable pint Of milk
| which is part of every meal. After eakfast one
| may walk or do as he chooses so that he returns
| in ime for the hours rest required before each
| meal.
The temperature Of the patient is taken four
| times day and marked on a chart
! Every one must take the prescribed amount of
| food and exercise.
No one must walk quickly without permission
and the rest hours must be strictly kept
| Windows must be kept wide open all the year.
night and day, and no visits may be paid to the
rooms Of the fever patients without the permission
| Of the physician These are the rules, not written,
| but rigidly kept nevertheless.
| The doctor examines each patient once month,
and visits him three times a day in his own room.
| The amusements cToquct and the camera
| in summer and tobOganing and snowshoes in the
| winter, and there are few indoor amusements, as
| these are not encouraged.
One wonders how the patients can possibly
| brave the weather into which they calmly go with
| out even wraps and IL is believed by those who
have STUDIED the subject that the practice Of leay
ing the windows open all the year produces this
| indifference