Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-14
Care Of Consumptives.

The Improvement ana cure of con-
sumutiyes 1T Fort stanton have been
effected by the treatment of the body
Of the patient-not by the treatment
Of the disease. The medical profession
does not admit tnat there has been
discovered specific remedy that will
cure consumption. In The absence OF
such a remedy, the doctors at Fort
Stanton call upon nature to do the
work of medicine The whole giSt of
the treatment is: build up the general
tone of the body to d point where the
system of its own accord, will throw
eff the disease.
To accomplish this, three things
have been found to he of paramount
importance. They are: rest, outdoor
{ life. wholesome food.
Consumption is the most devasta-
ting to the system of all the diseases
to which the human body is heir. 1t
not only eats up the lungs, but it re-
duces the vitality of its victim to the
| lowest ebb. The most meager stu
dent Of medical science ought to real
ize that a body in which the vitality
is badly impaired should not be taxed
| further. but should be given absolute
rest in order that the remaining
strength be permitted to fight the dis
ease.
The question of food for a consump-
tive is even more simple than the
question Of rest. He should receive
plain, well-cooked, nutritious, tissue
building food,-the same food that is
given rize-fghter training for a
oh iS min
for hard fighD, or an athletic
team preparing for a contest At Fort
Stanton, it has been found that eggs
and milk are exceedingly beneficial.
ana patients are given both in album
dance. A herd Of dairy cattle is kept
on the reservation, and increased from
time to time as the number Of pa
TENTS increases. \ herd Of range beef
cattle has been built up and, in anoth-
er year or two, will supply the sanato-
rum with beef. \ large tract of Ian.
is devoted to the raising of garden
vegetables. although the entire needs
of the Institution cannot as yet be
met in that respect.
"Outdoor life" probably means more
at Fort Stanton than at any other
sanatorium in TIE country because
there the patients are out Of-dOOrs, in
the actual open air, practically ali the
time. About half the patients sleep
in tents, thereby getting as much pure
air at night as they would if they
We're actually Out-of- doors, sleeping
on the ground, with the naked stars
above them. The remainder have
beds in specially ventilated dormito-
ries, which they are not permitted to
occupy except when they are asleep.
All patients are under the direct con-
troll of the nurses, who are required to
keep their charges out-cf-doors in the
daytime. ana the dormitory doors and
windows wide open at night.
one Of the greatest advantages in
the treatment Of consumption at Fort
Stanton is the climate. The sun
shines on m average Of 240 days per
annum. and on nearly every one Of
these days it is mild enough for the
patients to sit out of doors. The win
tiers are mild and the summers cool
The altitude is $3.50 feet, which, COM
bined with the slight precipitation
from IA to Il inches, part of which is
SnoW-produces an extremely dry at
mosphere the year round. While the
temperature on one or two occasions
has gone over 80 in the summer. the
heat is never enervating. There is in
Variahly a cool breeze. 1t is al
ways comfortable in the shade. and at
least one blanket is necessary at
night. All patients sleep Well, and as
sleep Is Il great builder, the cool
nights IN the summer are almost as
beneficial as the clear DAYS
throughout the year. In the winter,
the temperature at night is almost in
Varlably at freezing or little below
but the days are almost universaIIv
mild.-Review of Reviews