The Washington herald., 1907-09-29
TUBERCULOSIS IN DISTRICT

In the September number OF the Journal
of the Outdoor Life appears an iIlumlnat-
ing article on the prevalence and treat
ment Of pulmonary tuberculosis in the
District Of C~.umbia which should be
read by every citizen who is interested In
the welfare Of the Capital. It's author is
Or. William II. Baldwin, who. obviously.
is thoroughly informed in the premises
and who presents IN an attractive form
facts which probably are known 20 but
few Washingtonians, but which should be
known to all
Dr. Baldwin. early in the course Of his
paper. points To- a feature Of the situa-
ton which, as disclosed 10y the statistics
OF the District health department, has
long been a source Of regret to all those
interested in the local night against the
so-called white plague. This Is the cir
cumstance that the death rate from con-
sumption among the negroes is approx
mately three times as great as among the
whites Naturally, IA view Of Washing
tons abnormal negro population, this has
Ll4F tiEFNt Va llAAAall5 Aa4- AtAnA AFnAai
rate higher than II would be under nor
nal conditions, and higher than the rates
Of some other cities. although, as COM
pared with all the larger Southern cities
IN which the blacks are numerous, the
Capital makes a very. creditable showing.
Furthermore, the rate IS gradually de-
Creasing. For the fiye-year period l90l-05
it vas 2527 per loc0 population. as COM
pared with 1884 iu ISe6-ls00, 2957 in 1915,
3535 IN 1860. and 42}9 in 1875.
DIT. Baldwin says very p0intedly that
the heavier mortality among the negroes
may not safely be assumed 10 be due 70
a difference IN racial susceptibility.
Even a superfcisI study of conditions. ~
he says, "discloses bad housing. improper
food. ignorance Of the nature Of disease,
and lack Of care as TO proper medical
treatment among the colOTed people TO
degree that raises the question whether
whites. subject 20 the same inuflences,
would not suffer as much" However.
the writer points out that while the
presence Of the COIored people affords
some explanation Of a high death rate, it
is not referred 10 as an excuse for neg
lecting anything that will tend 70 reduce
It" He describes in considerable detail
the work which has been done here in
the short period that has elapsed since
a practical and organized anti-tubercu-
losis campaign was commenced. In 1900
the Instructive Visiting Nurse Society
was formed, and in 1853 the committee
on the prevention Of consumption came
into being as an outgrowth and part Of
the Associated Charities AT that time
not a hospital In the city would admit =
The committee has ac-
wonders in the four years OF
its existence. not only IN making pro-
visions for the proper care of INDECENT
and others. but in the
Of information concerning
the disease which, if applied with any
degree Of COMMON sense. must inevitably
result In fewer infections, fewer cases of
the disease. and fewer deaths. Dr. Bald
win gives the names Of several of the
citizens, physicians. and
laymen who have devoted and are de-
voting their time and talents TO the work
and while. generally speaking. to men
ton any Of these without mentioning all
would be TO make invidious distinctions,
we feel sure that all interested win ap-
prove a reference to former Surgeon
Sternberg, l. s. A, who has
taken a very active part in the move
ment since his retirement from active
service. and TO whom Dr. Baldwin pays
a high tribute as the leader Of the fight
Probably the most important of Gen.
Sternbergs achievements has been the
establishment, with the corporation of
some twenty physicians. of a sanatorium
near Washington Grove, Md. about
twenty miles from the Capital. for con-
who are able TO pay something
for treatment. The charge is so a week,
and the place is self-supporting. The pa
tients sleep in partly open tents winter
and summer and it has been demon
strated that they can be made perfectly
even In the coolest weather.
and at the same time enjoy that vital
element in the treatment Of their disease
fresh air. Many incipient cases have
left the sanatoriUm apparently WE'LL"
all other eases in the early stages have
and are likely to recover en-
tireiy, and many Of the more advanced
cases have shown material progress. It
Is doubtful If many Washingtonians. out
side of the medical profession and those
directly interested, know Of the existence
Of this place or realize that consumption
can be cured in this altitude ard climate
On this point Or. Baldwin says:
The Stamont Sanatorium is another conclu-
i've demonstration that people with tuberculosis do
l0t require the climIte Of Colorado OF Of Cali
OTnia in order to recover from the disease that
he practice Of sending patients without means 20
lar away is mistake, If Il does not deserve
iarsher term. and that right in this Washington |
egun cases taken in time and properly treated |
With fresh air and good food can and do recover. |
The establishment Of this fact is one Of the best
esllts Of the work IN Washington"
This institution, it should be under
stood, is entirely separate and distinct