The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-13
White PLAGUE
CUREDISCUSSED
George NJ Sternberg, Head Of
Princeton Society, Tells Of
Relation to Weather.
CAPITAL CLIMATE GOOD
Idea that High Attitudes Are Necessary
for Recovery Is Being Cast
Aside by Specialists.
By GEORGE M. sTERNBERG,

tuberculosis. On the Otner hand, the
disease may occur and progress to a
fatal termination under the most ia
vorable climatic conditions and recov-
cry may take place in any climate. In
other words, a favorable climate is only
one factor in the treatment of this
disease and ii is no longer regarded as
a specific or even essential agent for
effecting a cure.
That il has no specific action in pre-
venting the development and fatal prog
ress of pulmonary tuberculosis is shown
by the fact that as the country is settled
up in those sections which have en-
joyed the greatest reputation for the
cure Of tuberculosis. cases occur among
the native-born residents and the dis
ease has become veritable scourge
among some of the Indian tribes living
in those sections since they have been
Obliged to give up A nomadic life and
are permanently located in fixed habita-
tons. Fhis brings us to consideration
of the fact that unfavorable living con-
ditions may neutralize the most favor
able climatic conditions.
For civilized man has learned to make
for himself an artificial climate within
his dwelling which Is often most favor
able for the transmission and develop
ment of this scourge of mankind. Over
heated and overcrowded rooms are to
be found in all climates, and especially
in cold ATTITUDES and during the winter
season. Now, il is well established that
the breathing of pure and cold air is
one of the most important factors for
the prevention and cure of tuberculosis.
Pure air may be obtained in any part
of the world, outside of the limits of
towns and large cities, by living all the
year round in the open air. But in cold
countries during the winter months this
is often impracticable. Therefore, many
victims of tuberculosis have, in the past.
been advised to resort to regions where
the climate admits of an outdoor life
throughout the year. OF course, this
might be accomplished by living in
tropical or semi-tropical region. But UNI
fortunately such regions fail to give us
the beneficial offsets of a cold and
"bracing climate.
Now we may say in brief that a hot
and humid climate is most unfavorable
for tuberculosis patients; the disease
makes rapid progress in such climate.
In the absence of humidity the heat OF
summer is Well borne when the nights
are cool ard refreshing. The prin-
cipal advantage of mountain resorts is
that usually the nights are cool. 1t is
doubtful whether there is any special
advantage in elevation, per Sc, and ii
is generally admitted that a consider
able elevation is injurious for advanced
cases. While heat and humidity COM
bined are very unfavorable, it is not
SO sure that damp climate is bad on
account of the moisture. Patients often
do well in damp and foggy weather
when the temperature is neither too high
nor too low for comfort. When the
temperature during the day reaches 80
degrees to 100 degrees, or more, as in
the elevated plateaus in Colorado, New
Mexico, and Arizona, II is essential that
the humidity should be low, as ii is in
these regions, Otherwise the climate
would be NEST unfavorable for tubercu-
losis cases.
/ think that most physicians will agree
that favorable climatic factors are mod
crate temperatures during the day, alb
sence OF humidity, cool nights, plenty
of sunshine, absence of wind, storms, |
and billiards. The change of climate
which occurs in temperate ATTITUDES
a result of the changing seasons, is |
thought by some to be even better than |
a uniform ideal climate. And it is gen. |
orally recognized that change of eli |
mate is often beneficial, even when the |
new locality has nothing especial to |
recommend it. Having recognized that |
some climates are better than others |
for the victims of tuberculosis, We must |
admit that the ideal climate, for all the |
year round, is hard to find and if found |
the question of seeking II is one to be |
carefully considered by every tuberculosis |
patient seeking restoration to health. A |
recent author, who resides at Boulder, |
Colo, says:
An absurd idea exists in the minds |
of many people even of some physi- |
clans. that year in Colorado OF New |
Mexico will cure any consumptive. 1t i
is thought that climate is all-powerful, |
when, as experience proves, climatic in
fiuences are of small moment in compari-
son with hygenfc measures.
1T should be distinctly borne in mind |
that no treatment is best for all cases
II taken at the start, most will yield to
hygienic treatment under systematic
medical supervision, provided the patient
is willing to devote himself TO getting
well. A patient who can have good care
at home or among friends, no matter
what the climate, will do better than one
who is sent away to the West, to drift
about among strangers from one board
ing-house to another. Lack of care and
improper food are more dangerous than
cold or damp climates. Well-conducted
sanatoria in some of the most unfavor-
able climates show astonishing records of
cure. If, however, the best accommo-
dations and supervision can be re-en-
forced by a dry and bracing climate.
then conditions for recovery are best"
Changes of Altitude Bad.
Huber in his work on Consumption in
Relation to Man and His Civilizat ton;
Its Prevention and Cure" says:
AN important role is not now as
signed to any particular climate in the
treatment of consumption. Patients are
not sent thousands of miles to get well,
as used to be the case. 1t has been
found that almost any salubrious climate
will be effective. In one respect q change ,
from a low altitude to a very high one
is unfortunate, inasmuch as the patient
must oftentimes for the remainder of
his days live in the latter climate, the
rarefled air Of which induces a .physio-
logical emphysema.' The constructive
who does not do SO well as he should
is apt to change his climate frequently ,
There is always distress during travelling
which is, moreover, positively dangerous
when there are cavities and a propensity
to hemorrhage.''
To send an advanced and hopeless case I
to distant locality in search Of a cure
by climate. in the light of our present.
knowledge, is little less than inhuman.
For the early cases home treatment"
or treatment In a near-home sanatorium.
will often give the most satisfactory re-
suits. The advantages of treatment in I
a sanatorium located near the patients
home are apparent. The depressing in
fiuence of inconsistencies, which has such !
a disastrous influence upon many young
persons who are sent to distant locali-
ties with the mistaken idea that spe-