The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-12

iGDS1Vttfosls.
a By Miss Florence Black
So much is being done for tubercu-
losis that all that can be done against
it will be long in making any marked
impression, unless an antitoxtne Is dis
covered which Win render one i'm
mune. Two hundred and eighty-stx
/ deaths occurred last year of tuhercu~
losis of the lungs. The awful men
ace of this plague in Richmond seems
: first To have impressed the visiting
nurses, then very small. but earnest
, band Of workers. In the early days
of their struggle as new organiza-
tion the need for such a place as
Pine Camp Was felt, aud the move
| ment was advocated.
The first tuberculosis dispensary In
Richmond was established on Oregon
| Iiil IN 1925, bY the, eff oTtss,e Of Miss
Minor and Miss Dawson. Dr. Truman
Parker, DR., Garnett Nelson and DR..
Newton kindly gave their services
This little dispenaary merged into
the city dtspensaries when the health
board took up the fight against tuber-
culosis. In the fall of 1907 and estab-
| iished two dispensaries. one for the
white on East Franklin street. and
one for the colored on North Third
street. Here 500 patients have been
examined. The Board OF Health equip
ped and maintained these dispense :
ries. and for some time seven quarts
of milk and two dozen eggs per week
were given one patient in each district
as an experiment.
Later the eggs were withdrawn az
a useless expenditure, as they were
found frequently. not being used by
the patient. and that treatment In re-
gard to rest'and outdoor air could not
or would not be observed The milk.
however, Is still being given.
The board OF Haleth pays the salary
| OF the physicians In charge of the dis
| pensartes, the rest OF the staff being
| volunteer workers. all men OF exper-
fence. 1t also pays the salary OF two
| nurse for tuberculosis work, but in
| stead OF two nurses devoting their time
to this only, the work is more effect
ually carried on by each nurse taking
! charge of those found in her district.
Culture stations are established at
various drug stores, throughout the
| city where specimens OF sputum are
collected and carried to the city labor
atory for examination. The form OF
treatment prescribed at the dispensary
is followed up by the visiting nurse in
| the home. instructing the patient how
TO carry out the treatment, and ways
whore there were no means.
This with public lectures on tu-
hereufosis In the schools about the
| city by members Of the dispensary
staff and the State Anti tuberculosis
| Society, WAS all that could be done,
| but the small result. were and are, at
/ times. .encouraginK..a.W When, CataWha
was established. those who could af :
| ford the small sum, or could obtain 1t,
and were rot considered far advanced
| cases, were sent there
1t was not until distressing case
aroused the sympathy of people Of
means, as well as influence. that the
| public awakened TO the fact that an
advanced tubereuiar patient. had no
| place in Riclaiond even for money, ex-
| cept his home or the city hospital.
1t was then that the movement was
| started which resulted in the establish
| ment Of the tuberculosis camp.
Here twenty patients are cared for.
vacancies being filled as soon AZ they
| occur. This camp, il maintained by
individual subscriptions, donations, and
an appropriation OF Ave thousand dol
| lars this year from the city. Every
thing is free to the patients In many
instances, clothes are provided.
| The camp 10 not under the direct
| supervision OF the Board of Health but
sths chist health otisser u on The sxscn-