The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-02-25
OPEN-AIR CURE
How Patients Are Treated AT The
Hospital For Consumptives
Near ToWson

The Baltimore Sun of Tuesday, contained
| the following interesting account OF the
| fresh.air method of treatment for consump-
| tion, as practiced successfully In Baltimore
county:
Whilethe snow was falling yesterday morn
| ing-and, 10 fact, oil during the bitter cold
winter-while many thousands OF healthy,
hearty citizens have been slumbering in
closed, heated rooms, lit e band of Invaids
have been eeping and living In the open ar
on the heights of Towson. And they say
| they like it. While many of the robust resi-
dents Of the brick aud stone houses have
| suffered and died from colds. grip and pneu-
monia and the other kindred ills to which
| mai kind is heir. the Trailer, more delicate
dwelers in the open air have thrived and
| gained both flesh and good spirits.
At the Hospital for Consumptives Of Mary
| land, situated on the summit OF q high bill to
the east Of the pretty county seat OF Balti-
more county, nearly three-score sufferers are
fighting a stern battle against the "white
DEATH" And that every year many victors,
feeling the thrill of life in every drop Of the
boad that courses through their veins, are
discharged from the institution is attributed
| to the course Of treatment, the basic prin-
ciole OF which is fresh air-plenty Of good,
pure air, untainted by the myraid Of microbes
and the foulness that pollutes the air Of all
| large cities.
Sleeping comfortably and warmly, with
| the thermometer at the head Of the bed regis
tering degrees below zero and the fierce
blasts Of the north wind drawing weird tones
from the branches overhead, as If from the
strings of an moien-this is what some of the
patients at the Hospital for Consumptvts
have been doing.
Does it improve their health?
Three weeks ago there was discharged
from the institution a patent-a man-to
whom five weeks of life in the open air had
brought % pounds of good, solid flesh and a
bright color.
Do they like the life?
Each outdoor patient, when asked the
question, gave the same answer: IT'S just
fine IL don't believe l could ever sleep in
close stuffy room again
The shacks which are the homes Of the
patients are about SO yards from the main
building Sitting i'll his shack yesterday Mr..
Thomas Reynolds, one of those taking the
open air cure, told Of the life there.
The ''shack" is about II feet long by 8
feet wide, built of rough, implanted pine.
| and rooted with shingles and canvas The
north side Is high board door, working on
| hinge like an area door. The three other
sides are of glass in sashes. which swing
| outward on hinges. Running from the
| sashes and the north side to the head Of one
| OF the two small iron cots In the "shack" are
several ropes, working on pulleys. A trunk
| two chairs, small oil stove and an alarm
clock complete the furnishing, while few
bright pictures tackled to the slanting roof
| boards.
"This is where we live and Sleep" said
Mr. Reynolds. 1.-THE oil stove Is kept lighted
and the Window closed such days as this,
but the air crculates through the space you
see between the roof and walls. When bed
time comes we take off our clothes aud slip
| on wooden pajamas. Then we jump into
bed-there are nine blankets on each bed ,
and sometimes in very cold weather we use
quilt also. As soon as We get snug be-
meath the covers l reach out and turn out
! the oil stove. Then seize the ends OF those
ropes and pull. The sides open, and in a
| few minutes our SHORES are mingled with the
bowling OF the wind that is blowing over US.
We are sleeping with nothing but the roof
over our heads.
"When morning comes pull those other
| ropes and the sides close up. Then reach
| out and light the oil stove. In Is minutes
the chill and dampness are out of the room
and we can get up and dress in comfort and
safety.
"Haven't you felt cold during some of the
bitter weather we've mad this winter?' was
| asked
| "Not bit. Several times | have awak-
ened in the morning and found the Their
mometer down to zero, and once it regis
tered below. We always keep bottle Of
drinking water Underneath the bed clothes
to keep 1t from freezing, and we have to
put the clock under the pillow at night be-
cause il we don't the cold Will stop it..
SIS this outdoor life doing YOU any good.
do you think?'
III you had seen me when l first came
here, n year ago, you would not have to ask
that question. | was so weak l could hardly
walk. 1t was several months before | was
sron- enough to stand the outdoor life, but
| | started it last August. Since then have
gained Is pounds and am getting stronger
every day My brother, who was not nearly
so bad Off as | was year ago, remained in
the city and died last June If | hadn't
come out here | guess | would have been
gone, too"