Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-17
KEEP THEM HOME
Or. J. w. Pettit's Advice Regard.
ing Patients Suffering With
Consumption.
CAN BE CURED IN ILLINOIS
Sensible Address on Disease Delivered
by tuberculosis Expert
at Theatre.

DR.. J. w. Petit in discussing What
| We Must Learn and Unlearn in the
| Treatment of tuberculosis at the Hi
! nOis theatre last evening, said:
During the past 40 years there has
| been a steady development of conf
| dence in the open air method of treat
ing pulmonary tuberculosis. The won
| derful success which has attended this
method of treatment in all countries
| irrespective of temperature. altitude.
| drynesS, humidity or other special eli
matte conditions has demonstrated its
immense value as a curative agency
We have passed through the period of
skepticism and have now entered upon
an area of enthusiasm and activity.
This makes it necessary for us TO ad-
just our ideas and methods to the new
order of things
The anti-tuberculosis movement which
is now sweeping over the civilized
world is destined to do much good by
creating an interest in a subject
which has hitherto been treated most
indifferently. But movement of this
kind TO be of lasting benefit must
have a more substantial basis than
mere enthusiasm and activity. If our
efforts are not based upon the tangible
foundation of results the movement so
successfully begun will vanish like a
castle in the air" This should not
and will not be the result if We keep
in mind that the successful application
of therapeutic principle depends
quite as much upon correct methods
as upon the correctness of the princi-
pie itself We have much to unlearn
as well as to learn in the modern
treatment of tuberculosis, if we would
save il from falling into the undeserv-
ed disrepute which must follow the
present Indifference to methods, and
exercise more care in holding out the
inducement that the range of its APP
plication is wider than is warranted
by the facts of experience. Now is the
time to get our hearings if we would
avoid the pitfalls to which a wrong be-
ginning inevitably leads.
II is not my purpose in the present
address to attempt to cover the whole
subject of the treatment of tuberculo-
sis. but rather to call especial atten-
ton to those features of the problem
which are either ignored, misunder
stood or not sufficiently emphasized.
Climate UnImpOrtant.
First as to climate. 1t IS now well
established fact that climate is an un-
important factor in the treatment of
tuberculosis 1t cannot be gainsaid
that treatment can be conducted in
certain climates more comfortably
IN, l,,t t,tI,nranInciC 10
cured in all climates. The beneficial
results which have been derived from
certain supposedly favorable climates
are not due to atmospheric conditions.
but simply to the fact that patients
frequenting these places have lived
out of doors We now know that il is
life in the open air, and not some pc
culiar attributes of climate which can
only be found in certain favored local.
ties. The abuse of climatic treatment
can only be excused on the plea that
no other method was known that
promised relief. Patients have been
unfortunately sent TO California,
Colorado. Arizona and New Mexico,
with only a vague idea as to what they
shouli do when they got there. The
result has been that these supposedly
favored localities have been filled with
a horde of pitiful wrecks of humanity
WHO should never have been allowed,
much less encouraged by their physi-
clans. to leave their homes
Guide the Patients.
Because the medical profession have,
learned the utter futility of drugs iII
the treatment of tuberculosis, our re
sponsibility has not ceased. We must
guide our patients where we do noLl
treat them We should not attempt -
advise a change of climate, or the
adoption of a given course OF treat
ment until we are in full possession OF
such facts as will enable us to guide
our patients Alright. We have not dis
charged our duty when we have told
him drugs are Of no avail and leave
him TO his own resources, or, as IL
usually the case. tell him 10 go west.
Such advice generally means TO thei
person Of slender purse that after a
long and expensive journey he hnds
himself forced TO contribute to his sup
port when work of any kind Is con
tra-indicated. He finds himself con
and TO live in cheap lodging houses
where he is still further exposed toI
infection. Add TO these discourage
ments the inevitable homesickness
worry loneliness. lack OF medical d.
rPcrion and of what possible avail can
climate be under such circumstances
This is the picture presented by that
great army of consumptiyes whom we
have been indiscriminateiy sending to-
the west. 4 prominent charity work
CT has investigated the conditions in
several typical health seekers towns
and as a result calls on the medical
profession throughout the country to
do all it can to prevent the "inexcusa
bic stupidity which sends these people
hitler 20 die. friendloss and alone
He states that IN Phoenix. AriZ-. %
nor cent Of the poDulation are health