The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-22

checked by wise living and care. the vi
tally of the body restored to normal by
outdoor life, good food, rest and exercise
and above all the patient trained how to
conduct his life in the future. for the
educative feature of the sanatorium is its
greatest feature and since few of the
patients will leave fully cured they must
take away with them full knowledge
OF how to live so as to complete their
cure at home.
unfortunately when the case is ar
rested here and has to go right back TO
his Authenticated tenement and his dusty,
dark factory. with long hours to work, he
must inevitably relapse, however well ne
may have done, unless steps are taken to
improve his home-life and surroundings
and the conditions under which he works.
THE French have developed an excel
lent idea to supplement the work of the
sanitorlum in what they call the con-
valescent form, where arrested cases leav-
ing the santorium and able to do out
door work are put at light and gradually
increasing work on the farm, where they
can pay for their support by their Ia
cors. and finally be restored to robust
health; but even here 1t Is to be noted
that the conditions of work to which he
returns must be proper, If even then ne
is to do well, and that as far as posi-
bile such patients should take up-country
life, or at least outdoor occupation.
"Sixth-We must not forget the hope
less advanced case, with hollow, sunken
cheeks, with the CLEAN of fever in his
eyes, with constant cough, bringing up
and spreading all around him his poison
ous sputum. Such men and women are
steady sources of infection, and even II
you could absolutely. clean and disinfect
this whole town tomorrow, they would
infect it again in the course of year
They cannot be left where they are, to
die in misery, not merely for humani-
tartan reasons but for the good of the
community and must be placed where
skilful treatment and nursing will both
render them comfortable and remove all
danger of their injecting others.
Let me insist again, therefore, the
urgency of hospitals for advanced cases
In the solution of this problem.
Cost of Programme
"And are you appalled, at the cost of
the programme I have outlined for you?
l would not deny that it will cost much
money, but leaving entirely aside the
philanthropic aspect of the case, you will
have to do 1t If you are adequately to
meet the situation, and If you will spend
little time in figuring out what tuber-
year you will find the money which 1t is
necessary to invest will earn a big inter
est. 1t will be worth while. in useful
hands, restored to gainfu labor, which
are now instead steady and increasing
drain on your treasury; 1t will pay you
in the efficiency of your town in every
way, and the increased security from a
dread disease of your own families. But
while it will pay in cold dollars and
cents, it is not in that aspect that 1 am
appealing to you.
Much as we Americans may love the
acquisition of the might" dollar 1t is,
like to think 1t, not It's mere acquisi-
ton that we love. but the power that it
gives us, and of those powers the great
est is the power to do good. the power to
help those who need help; and I am sure
that this will be the view of the citizens
of Birmingham.
ITO such a task I would call you; may
you not neglect the call. The need is
there. acute and real and pressing The
opportunity is there. Science has shown
us that the task is not beyond our pow
ers All that is needed is that you fully
realize it, and you will start here to-
night a movement that will not stop I'M
til the city of Birmingham and state of
Alabama are freed. as we'll they can be,
from the great white plague