The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-02-25

blankets on couches on the porches |
by the nurses and lie there until IL |
o'clock. Some are strong enough to |
take walk and at twelve they exer-
else as much as the superintendent
advises. At 100 o'clock dinner, of
three courses, hearty and good, is serv-
ed. From two to five o'clock all pa
tients are wrapped out Of doors again
and by Eve o'clock are SO refreshed
and rosy that they are a surprise to
themselves. Another walk for those
who are strong enough and then sup
per at six. A little recreation and
pleasure are enjoyed in the Assembly
hall until nine o'clock, when all pa
tients are put to bed. Each bedroom
has window and door, which are left
open all night
The cardinal features of the cure
of this disease are rest, good food,
fresh air and an easy and composed
mental condition. One day spent with
patient will prove that the first
three are furnished by the treatment
at the sanatorium and after few
days stay the patient acquires the
peace Of mind which is essential to
cure. One patient is the wife of
state legislator, one has been house
keeper in the home OF college presi-
dent, one the wife of minister, and
all, men and women, are representa-
tive people from their communities,
capable of learning how to prevent
others from taking the disease and
clever enough to fall in with the treat
ment in order to make it effective. One
patient said to me, IF can't get well
here | don't want to live" Within
months time, one has been pronounc-
ed an arrested case and all are gain
ing not only in weight, but in strength
have not the blind optimism Of the
consumptive of days gone by, but from
the record Of their pulse and temper
ature, taken twice day, by the nurse,
and from the record of scales, all of
which tell the unmistakable story of
slow and certain improvement, they
feel confident of the future. The su-
perintendent, DR.. G. B. Conwell, Is
man of mind and heart, with record
of ten years successful specializing,
and the head nurse, Miss. Elizabeth
Allen. has been loved by the consump
tives whom she has nursed, in private
families and in district work for eight
years. The patients follow the di-
rections of these two, as obedient
children follow the injunctions of faith
er and mother.
The law requires that the patient
be over seven years of age and that
he be suffering from incipient pull
monary tuberculosis, A small fee of
$5 week is charged, which includes
board, room, laundry, medical atten-
tion, etc.
The patients spit in sputum cups,
and hold a piece of gauze in front
of their mouths when coughing. The
floors of the cottages are mopped up
with an antisceptic fluid each day.
Dishes are washed and rinsed by ma
chinery in boiling water. In fact, ev-
erything is done to safeguard the
health of nurses and employees and
most of all to teach the patients that
tuberculosis will not be contracted
by others, when the consumptives
know how to prevent te spread of the
disease.
The reader can readily see that
this movement in the fight against
tuberculosis is really educational and
sociological, and as DR.. Conwell says
"The intelligent care Of the residents
of Ohio, who have contracted tuber
culosis, combined with the instruc
tion of those patients, their relatives
and friends, in regard to the danger
incurred by wrong living, will more
than compensate whatever effort o.
whatever expense is necessary in for
warding this great work"
LUCY ALLEN SMART.