The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-10

tuberculosis The open air treatment brings to the skin all the color" of which the patient is possessed. The process of nutrition in use builds out emaciated forms and faces and there are many patients in the colony who the laymen never would class as tu- berculous in another environment. This surprising appearance of the col- onists is heightened by the air of cheerfulness that peryades the place. There is not face in the tent colony that bears the stamp of habitual de- spondency typical of the disease.
 There is practically no social caste in the colony. All patients have the dining room. All of the tents are sub stantially the same in their appoint ments, although there are few for which slightly higher charge is made than others: but the range between the minimum and maximum charge is so small that it precludes any reason able claims to social distinction on the part of those occupying the high er- priced tents. In the colony, how ever. matters of social distinction are left behind and all the patients are placed on the same level by the strong est of bonds--a commoA afliiction and q common danger. The social features of tho colony are emphasized by the management. An orchestra plays dur ing the supper hour. and music Is en- couraged as one of the best means of tientS from their affliction and from themselves. There is card playing. lectures and other forms of diversion.
 Tho history of the colony. in brief, in this: For years the problem of the treatment and cure of tuberculosis has appealed to physicians as the most important in their realm. Illi- nois physicians were not behind in this thought nor in their activity. pr. Petit. Rush graduate, who has prac- ticed medicine in Ottawa for thirty one years was made the chairman of the Illinois State Medical Society com mittee on tuberculosis, the other mem bers being pr. Charles Louis Mix, of Chicago. and Dr. J. F. Percy, of Gales burg. A year ago last July an experi- mental colony was established at Ot- tawa, with the support of the medical fraternity of the State, starting with two patients and ten tents. Last win ter the men in the lead of the fight on consumption went before the legis- lature and asked for an appropriation of S20O, 1000, with a view to making the colony a State charitable institution. This sum was whittled down to $25.- 900, and the bill carrying the appro- priation was vetoed by Governor De- neen. For this act, however. the phy- sicians of the State are now thankful to the governor, for $25,000 was too small a sum to be of any practical use in the establishment of a tent col ony The situation then presented the alternative. either to abandon the em- bryo colony or to conduct 1t under pri- vate auspices. At this juncture Drs. Petit and Butterfield decided to as- sume the responsibilities of private ownership. and have spent nearly S4O.- 900 in establishing the colony. On December 12. the colony Is to be ded- icated formally. Dr. Frank Billings of Chicago, and other prominent physi- clans who have taken an active in- terest in the suppression of tubereulo- sis will make addresses, and plans have been made for the running of ex- crusion trains from all parts of the State. ~
 pr. Pettits investigation of eastern and foreign institutions showed him that the initial outlay for buildings and plant ranged from S1.25O to $3.500 per patient. and the problem was pre- sented of how to reduce this initial ex- penditure in order that the fees to pa- tients might be reduced to the lowest possible point. The colony al Ottawa answers this question, the principal saving haing been made in the sub stiution of canvass tents for the more expensive individual buildings.
 After having conrteously heen shown l the colony by pr. Petit