The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
THE SPELL OF THE FRYING PAN
Owe CHEF CAUSE or TUBERCU-
yOSIS IN THE TENEMENTS.
Miss FOrnlan Thinks That There Would
Be Less Consumption IL People Learn-
ed TO Cook -. She Would Also Danish
the TeapOt-TO Prove Her Theory.

cmIar cases of the tenements,' said Miss
Grace Forman.
Miss Forman is the tuberculosis nurse for
,,, Vanderbilt Clinic. She has under her
cste 100 cases OF tuberculosis, and visits
the patients in their homes. IA
The aim of this branch yshe Clinics
work. is the curing OF CONSUMPTION in its
ncipient stages, and for this 1t lays special
stress upon the question Of adequate nour-
shment Milk and eggs are the corner
stone of its treatment. Tobacco and all
forms of stimulants are strictly forbidden.
and the frying pan is anathema.
Miss Forman has had a somewhat notable
experience with this particular aspect OF
the tuberculosis problem in New York
Last fall the Charity Organization Society
had so many calls for extra help from Its
agents in all parts of the city that reports
we're requested as to the causes thereof
II was found that in every instance the
reed was directly traceable to a case of
tuberculosis in tho family.
II was then that the committee for the
prevention Of tuberculosis was formed,
and Miss Forman was sent out as special
Investigator to report on the cases, She
visited every one, took its history, found
ont the amount Of the persons income
and the amount spent for food, and got
careful account Of the menu
As a result, she reported that thirty-eight
out of the fifty tuberculous patients were
suffering from insufficient nourishment,
ard that those cases which were not too
advanced could be cured by proper feeding,
supplemented by rest and open air Her
report was received somewhat obviously,
but when she asked permission to make
test case it was granted, and 81 a day was
allowed for food for the test patient.
Miss Forman chose for her test patient
Mrs Smith, who could not sit up straight
because Of pain in her side. who could not
walk half a block whom the doctor
pronounced TO be In decline and on the
way to the grave. Mrs. Smith was widow
with three children. The Charity 0rganiza-
ton Society had been paying her rent.
bur otherwise she had been supporting four
persons on the wages she earned by pack
ing olives, which never amounted to ore
than SO a week
She told the nurse what her diet had been.
Butter had not been In the house for more
than two years Meat they had once
week For milk they consumed a watery
fluid needing label for Identification, and
they had forgotten what cream was like.
The family lived on fried potatoes and tea.
Mrs. Smith rose early, got the breakfast
and took her children to day nursery be-
fore going to work. And after the factory
closed she had to get the children again,
take them home and get their supper and
then do any bit of mending or sewing or
cleaning that had to be done in the evening
1t was not strange that she made her cook
ing as short and easy as possible.
The frying pan and teapot proving in
adequate to this strain. Mrs. Smith broke
down and went into decline. 1t seemed
the easiest thing to do.
Mrs. Smiths children were put into an
institution. Then her room was cleaned
and papered, after which il was a fairly
decent sort OF room. She had not got
tuberculosis by reason OF darkness or poor
ventilation.
Then Mrs. Smith was ordered. under
pain Of sudden death. to throw her frying
pan and teapot out Of the window. She
regretted to sec them go, as they were old
FIJI" Ills. But she wanted to live She was
then ordered further TO consume two quarts
of milk. one-half pint OF cream and four
raw eggs daily.
This was only medicine. In addition
she was expe ted to eat three square meals
day of beefsteak, chops, bread heavily
buttered, peaches and cream and all sorts
Of nice things like that Mrs. smith con-
sented but she said:
-Whatever'll do when II stops, Miss
She still wanted to fry things, but she
had sense enough to follow the cooking
Instructions given her. She also received
carfare for daily trolley ride.
At the end Of five days the Co mnittee
orthe Prevention of tuberculosis was going
to have meeting, and the nurse took her
test patient to be weighed. Mrs. Smith
rad gained four and a half pounds. At
the end of two weeks she had gained twelve
pounds Al the end Of three, she went back
n work. and has continued TO work ever
sine" She has continued TO gain flesh,
slightly, but steadily.
She Ia practically we'll woman. But her
children have been kept in the institution,
and she has spent nearly all her wages on
her own food, dis" ensing with frying pan
and teapot.
1t was after this test case that the Charity
Organization Society began spending 81 900
A month on its tubercular cases; and it 10
owing to the work of the society that in
cr"as d at. ntion has been paid to tubercu-
loss treatment in every dispf nsary In the
CITY during the past winter and spring
Az The Vande rbilt Clinic, which is the only
on making a spe calty Of tuberculosis, the
treatment is based on adequat" nourish-
mont and free dom from all stimulants.
Plenty If good, wholesome food, at last
on quart Of milk and from thrte to SIN raw
eggs a day, and absolute abstinence from
liquor, wine, beer, tobacco and fried food,
ar the first requisites Of the Treatment
II Ia Miss Forman's duty to visit the pa
tlents in their homes, keep record OF the
cas- :, and see that the Instructions are
carried out n is in this last respect that
s1e 'as occasion to give coed many les
sons in cooking and food values.
There ia not always lack OF food, nut
there is always lack OF no,lrishmcnt IN
tubrrcular cases" said abe. 'For instance,
IN the racial classification OF consumptlV's
In Vow York the Irish lead all white races.
having a death rate nearly double that OF
the BOhomans, who come ncxt.
The very poor Irish nearly live on po..
tatoes The potato is almost destitute 81
nourishment, and so loads tn" stomach
with starch that it produces indigestion,
especially when fried, as 1t almost inVarl-
ably is among these people No person
with indigestion can be well nourlshed' ana
Indigestion is a forerunner OF tuberculosls.
Then the Irish take great deal 49,, OF
stlmulant, both intoxicants and tea Inc
injury OF all forms OF stimulants IN tuper-
cu.osls is that they remove the appette
iorfood, The person is living on stlmuanls
instead Of food, and as malnutrition IL tne
cause Of tuberculosis, the effect Ia easily
undnrstood
4, "Th" effect Of tea and coffee differs from