The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-20
FIERCE BATTLE IS
WAGEO AGAINST
WHITE PLAGUE
FREE CLINIC, ELolsE HOSPITAL
AND CHARITY DAY FUND ARE
FACTORS IN VIGOROUS CAM.
PAlGN TO STAMP OUT DISEASE.

The battle against the great white
plague Is at its turning point IN De
troit.
| So say those who are engaging In
the crusade TO fight this disease. AS
result OF the measures being taken
10 prevent the spread of the plague
IL Is hoped 10 hold the battle even
from now on. With the securing OF
more open-air hospital room, gains are
expected and few years should mark
great decrease in the disease.
tuberculosis, or consumption, has
made its ravages mostly among the
poorer people and the war against 1,
has. therefore. been strengthened
greatly by the raising OF a fund re
Gently TO furnish nurses and help fol
the poor victims. A great deal is also
expected OF the Detroit Free Throat
and Chest clinic, which has been es
tablishtd on Hastings-st. near Adams
ave.
Early diagnosis OF the disease Is
named as the principal measure in the
fight. Once the fact is determined
that a patient has consumption, meas
ures can be taken TO educate him to
take precautions so that he will not
impart the disease to others. This pre-
vention OF spread of the malady Is
the second battle.
The first month the free clinic was
In operation, 15 cases applied for in
struction and treatment and the mum
Der has steadily grown. Physicians
are sending patients there for advice
and treatment, particularly the peo-
pie OF the poorer class.
Between 80 and 40 cases have re-
Gently been sent to the open-air hos
pital In Eloise, which has almost
reached its capacity. 1t is hoped in
time to get larger tuberculosis hos
pital on the plan OF the one establishes
by the City OF Cleveland.
The board OF health supplies eggs
and milk TO tuberculosis patients who
are not able TO purchase them, and
the Charity Day fund assists In get
ting these supplies and also in fur
nishing tents and hammocks TO those
who wish TO take the outdoor treat
ment In their homes. A number II
Detroiters are now living in back
yards or on back porches. One such
case is that of man who has store
on Gratiot.ave., in the most thickly
SellleC pOIllOH VI tie CITY, uul ID I'LL
proving in health by sleeping on a
back porch.
The Charity Day fund also hires
four nurses who visit the sick in their
homes and instruct them and their
families in the proper care to be TAX
en-. Literature is also circulated de-
scribing the best methods Of fighting
the disease.
notable case of spread OF the dis
ease through lack OF recognition came
TO the notice Of the doctors in the
free clinic last week. A man came
in complaining of cough and saying
that he was all run down through
caring for a brother who had recently
died He did not know that he had
tuberculosis. yet he had been sleeping
for year with brother who died Of
the disease and who, through ignor.
ance, had taken no preventive meas
ures.
The free clinic is supported by the
donations OF Frank II. Hecker, George
II. Barbour, jeremiah Dwyer, Chas. Fl.
Hodges. Sidney T. Miller. II. N. Hovey,
the late Mrs. w. B. Wesson and 9th
ers, The physicians In attendance
are: DR.. E. l.. Shurly, Wadsworth
Warren, w. NJ. Donald. p. n. Hickey,
II. ]. Hartz and B. r. Shurly.