The Minneapolis journal., 1902-02-15
CONSUMPTION CONTAGIOUS But CURABLE

Consumption is on the increase in Min
neapolis, not because the climate is
changing but because people are coming
into the city in such numbers that they
are crowding together in the little, old
buildings which graced the early days of
Minneapolis but are now a menace to it.
Last year only two persons died of con-
sumption. in the thirteenth ward, the dis
trict including Lakes Calhoun and Harriet
to Park avenue beyond Thlrty-thlrd
street, a locality free from old and
crowded houses. s In the same period for
ty-four died in the Fifth ward thirty
eight in the third ward each ward having
many old and closely crowded buildings
The large majority of deaths were among
that class whose incomes compel them to
economize on space, fuel and food.
The disease is contagious. 1t never de-
velops unless the germs of consumption
are taken into the system from some
other person either directly, as in the
breath, or in the dried saliva from a con-
sumpttve or from the articles he uses in
eating or bathing. It is spreading in Min
neapolis, because people do not generally
know it is contagious and hence do not
try to protect themselves and the public.
Confinement Is Suicidal.
The city hospital has been compelled to
take consumptives into its new and beau
tiful building because there is no other
it is suicidal to send consumptives there
for these patients get worse steadily and
rapidly when in a closed room where
others are living. The poorhouse cannot
take them for they are sick and so they
are left to walk around the wards of the
city hospital where are lying those suffer-
Ing from typhoid, dysentery, pneumonia
and accidental injuries. In this condi
tion these other patients absorb the con-
sumption germs very readily. The nurses
and doctors at this hospital as in all hos
pitals where consumptives are accepted,
often contract the disease. 1t became
such a menace to the sick in New York
city and Chicago that within a few weeks
special buildings have been given over ex-
clusively to consumptives.
After much pleading an extra floor has
been added to the Minneapolis contagious
building of the city hospital and the con-
sumptives are to be kept. without any
hope of ever leaving the hospital alive
on the top floor of a building in which
are to be placed all the contagious cases
of diphtheria. erysipelas, measles, scarlet
fever, mumps, etc.
But already the demand for this conta-
gious ward is so great that the space al
1otted to the consumptives will have to be
given up.
A Practical Plan Proposed.
Minneapolis must meet this condition
squarely as all large cities are compelled
to. L. A. Lameraux, architect Of the city
hospital, which is one OF the most COM
plete and attractive hospitals in the west,
has drawn the plans to give the people of
Minneapolis an idea of what can be done
for the unfortunate class. Consumptives,
II taken early, can be cured, but if left
to live in the usual surroundings will be-
come incurable in few months The city
has come into possession of a large tract
of land adjoining the workhouse DR..
Henry Nelson, city physician, suggests
that this be used to care for these pa
tients who are er'angerng not only their
families but the community. It could be
run very economically because the sery-
ice could be furnished free from the work
house and improvements be carried on by
the inmates. The question OF heating is
prominent one, but the cottages and
sleeping rooms of these patients in the
sanatoria in the eastern states are never
allowed to be warmer than 40 degrees
Fahrenheit.
After long experience (some of these
institutions have existed eighteen years)
1t has been demonstrated that heat from
an open fireplace is most beneficial. Hot
water heating may be needed in the most
severe weather but an abundanc Of blan-
kets and clothing is relied on. The nl1m-
81 sbes allowed by the sanatorium run by the
state Of Massachusetts is seven blankets