The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-23
How the italian Families of a
New York District Are
Learning to Avoid Con-
sunption-Art Plays Part
In a Way That Appeals to
Italian Mind.
Exclusive Service Charities and The
Ec.r,,-,,..-,-. R.-...- RI,IanL.A


spit" signs have been superseded by
handsome coIored posters containing 4
few simple directions in regard to the
prevention of consumption on the Dor
der This picture campaign is being
carried on by the Committee on the
Prevention of tuberculosis Of the
New York Charity Organization So
ciety.
Heretofore the committee in its
work of educating the community with
regard to tuberculosis and the methods
of prevention to be adopted. has di-
| rected its efforts not to any particu-
lar class nor to any particular section
of the city Its campaign of educa-
ton has been carried on with all
classes Lectures have been given in
settlements and churches, before labor
unions and in connection with its trav-
cling exhibit, but up to the present
| time no effort has been made to reach
| the tenement house population in its
homes.
Beginning with the Italians. the
committee has now inaugurated a
plan of house to house viSitatiOn-or
rather door to door visitation-in the
older Italian quarter of the city. The
Italian visitor, poster in hand, calls
on the Italian families in this particu-
lar district and she is pretty sure OF
a welcome for there is picture of
the home country, a Venetian canal
with a palace and its garden in the
foreground and the Capanile in the
distance The picture was especially
chosen because of its bright, gay color
and its thoroughly Italian quality. The
committee believed that a picture of
this kind would especially appeal to
the Italians, with their love of color.
and that it would be one which they
would delight in preserving and hang
ing on their walls. Had il been pos
sible to obtain an equally attractive
picture in color, of the Bay of Naples,
this would have been chosen in place
of the Venetian scene, as the commit
tee recognized that many more of the
Italians in New York come from the
neigFIbOrhOod of Naples than from
Venice.
Printed with the picture is simple
advice with reference to consumption.
The picture bears this legend at the
top: "A cough may lead to cOnsump-
tion," and then proceeds to give the
following advice:
IF you have a cough or a cold that
hangs on, if Won even family suspect
that your lungs are not strong, do not
try to cure yourself Go to a doctor,
or to the nearest tuberculosis clinic
where you will be treated free OF
charge II unable TO pay
Then Is given the address of the
clinic for the particular district in
which the poster is being. distributed.
In New York there are at the present
time ten such clinics forming together
what is known as the Association of
tuberculosis Clinics. Each one is re-
sponsible for definite district of the
city and all people living in that dis
trict are required 10 be treated at
that particular clinic.
In grouping the material upon the
poster, especial consideration was
given to this fact and il was so ar
ranged that in subsequent editions to
be distributed in other sections OF the
city the name and address of the clinic
could readily be changed.
On one side of the picture are the
following general directions:
Sunlight fresh air, good food, tenn
perate habits are the best means or
preventing tuberculosis. Keep your
windows open day and night summer
and winter"
Don't spit on the sidewalks or
floors or Railways of your homes or
schools. 1t spreads disease. 1t is
also dangerous"
At the bottom beneath the picture
is added:
tuberculosis is not hereditary but
is acquired, and generally preventable
When you must spit, spit in the gut
tiers, or into a spittoOn half filed with
wafer"
Then there is a statement that the
picture is given with the compliments
of the Committee on the Prevention or
tuberculosis of the New York Charity
Organization Society with its address.
1t will be seen at once that four i'm
portant results are sought to be accom-
plished by the distribution of this
poster.
First: An attractive picture is
given in a friendly spirit to large
numbers of the Italian tenement popu-
latiOn who kePnly appreciate all things
artistic and who have little OppOrtun-
ity of indUlging this taste in their
homes.
Second: Sound advice is given with
regard to the nature of tuberculosis
and the best methods of prevention
Third: Persons who are sick are
referred TO a dispensary or clinic in
their neighborhOOd and are told thai
they may be treated there free OF
charge
Fourth: A totally new conception
is given TO the foreign tenement house
population of the importance of ven
tiIation and its effect upon health.
The agent has found the windows
shut in most of the homes she has
visited. even when the room was
filed with Italian women working on
garments Upon the agent advising
them to open the windows and ex-
| planning that the way to keep from
getting consumption is TO have plenty
of fresh air both night and day. The
women have as a rule replied that
| they would all catch cold, and they
| have seemed Mortified at the thought
of opening their windows at night, ex-
| claiming that the night air would
surely bringe illness" That the aver
age Italian peasant living in a New
| York tenement should still believe in
| the danger of the night air is not
| surprising when We consider how
| this belief has been inculcated in them