Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-15
WAR
Dr.. J. w. Petit Tells Local Physicians
Results Expected at Open
Air Sanitarium.
SPEAKS AT DISTRICT MEETING
Central Association Elects DIR. f. :.
Gilbert, OF GeneseO, President
For Ensuing Year.


the annual meeting of the Iowa and
Illinois Central District Medical asso-
citation held yesterday afternoon at
Schuetzen park, Davenport:
President-Dr. Z. S. Gilbert, Gene
| SEQ.
Vice president-Dr. George Banning.
Davenport.
secretary-Dr. F. II. First, Rock
Island
Treasurer-Dr. Martha Anderson
Moline
DR.. y. NJ. Beal. OF Moline, the retir-
ing president, delivered an address re
viewing the work of the association
| for the year past. DIR. J. w. Petit,
OF Ottawa, Ill, was the guest of honor,
and on invitation read paper on
| Treatment of tuberculosis in Sana-
tOria and Tents" He is chairman Of
the Illinois Medical SUcicty's commit
tee on tuberculosis. Statistics were
produced showing that 10 per cent of
the deaths were due to consumption of
the lungs.
war against consumption through
in the open air-tent colonies
been begun by tho Illinois State Medi-
cal society DR.. Petit holds the fell
disease is by no means incurable in
this climate, and one of these
tent colonies already has been cstab-
liShed at Ottawa, where patients will
be treated free OF cost, This is the
first step in campaign of education
and medical practice that is expected
materially to decrease the ravages of
this disease, which causes more
deaths in Illinois annually than any
two other ailments, according to the
state board of health.
Consumption Durable Here.
1T is apprehended, DIR. Petit says.
that the greatest obstacle We will
encounter in securing an appropriation
Tor state Sanitaria Will be the difficulty
III convincing the public in general ana
legislators in particular that tuber-
culosts can be cured in this climate.
The belief that certain attributes of
the atmosphere. such as rarity. dry
ness, equable temperature. etc. are
necessary has become so firmly ostab-
Iished that It need not he surprising
if we find il difficult to convert the
skcptical TO Il contrary belief"
Nevertheless the society has set
about demonstrating that the disease
is actually durable here. and expects
to prove its point beyond Contradic-
ton by a showing of the results OBJ
tanned at Ottawa. Here the first tent
colony has been established and the
society hopes that it will be the pre-
decessOr of a long list of similar SAM |
taria nurtured by the state.
First Institution of Kind Here.
Moreover, the sanitarium at Ottawa |
is the first for the treatment of con
established in the Missis- |
sippi valley. 1t has been found that !
plenty of fresh air and full Opportuni- |
ties for the exercise of the lungs are |
the primal necessities for the treat |
ment of the disease. and the patients !
will live in tents, after the manner of |
those in similar institutions in Colo !
RADIO and Arizona, where consumption |
has been treated with great success. |
The sanitarium at Ottawa is under |
The direct charge of the medical So !
cicty. and the care of its physicians |
will be given To- all patients free. The |
only charge is the actual cost of main |
tcnanCc. which is estimated at about |
$40 a week for each patient. at the |
necessarily high standard which will |
be maintained. The service will be |
equal To that of first-class hospital |
and professional nurses. skilled in the |
care of tuberculosis patients. will be
AZ hand, in addition to the large staff
IF physicians. The tent colony has |
been established in a dry. sunny spot.
and with plenty of opportunities for
fresh air and exercise at hand it is
expected TO give the afflicted every !
chance for recovery.
Campaign of Education.
'.Our ultimate ri &c