The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-09-24
THE GREAT WHITE
PLAGUE.

The great white plaSue-tu-
berculosis-is more to be feared
than the Black Plague, the
name given in history to bubon-
ic plague, for pulmonary con-
sumption" is always with US.
Its approach and development
are slower and, if possible, more
insidious and stealthy, while bu-
bonic plague may be guarded
against by well understood
methods.
Tuberculosis-and here is
meant the disease as it affects
the lungs frequently gets a
firm hold upon its victim before
it's presence is even suspected.
Its greatest foe is fresh, clean
air, an unlimited supply of it.
1t is more efficient than medi-
cines, for no drugs can stop tu-
berculosis.
The disease is not communi-
cable in open air, and this fact is
recognized in the modern treat
ment. Vast sums are spent ev-
cry year in the erection and
maintenance Of hosp "a S.
Pennsylvania spends annually a
million dollars for this purpose,
to provide splendid buildings
equipped and managed by ex-
perts; but these great sanatoria
become in fact, little more than
hotels for the wellto-do or
boarding houses for the poorer
classes. Massachusetts,, the
classes. Massachusetts,, the
first of the states to build such
institutions by legislative; appro-
priations, is abandoning the plan
and others will surely follow the
policy, because it does not recog-
nize the full value of an unre-
stricted circulation of fresh air,
such as is impossible within
walls and roofs of brick and
stone and tile, no matter how
thoroughly ventilated.
The open-air sanatorium,
which affords protection only
from the sun and rain and storm,
which welcomes every breeze
that blows, which brings in un-
adulterated the sweet odors of
nature from the forest, is the
nearest ideal condition that
science has recognized for the
treatment of the disease.
The enclosed sanatorium plan
is almost prohibitive by state ap-
preparation on account of its
cost. In Florida it is entirely
impossible, as well as inefficient,
because both sexes and both
races would have to be provided
for in separate institutions.
Even the open-air sanatorium
idea is Objectionable, only in
less degree, for the same reason.
The plan favored by Florida's
Board of Health is based large
ly on the education of the people
to the facts about the disease, its
seriousness, its way of spreading
and the responsibility of the in
dividual. For the treatment OF
tuberculosis is not matter for
the physician alone; it is large
ly a sociological problem, for
whose solution popular senti-
ment and public opinion must
contribute their full co-opera-
ton.
The Board urges the open-air
treatment, because it is avail
able to all and its cost is within
the reach of the poorest. The
patient should be separated in
his sleeping and living from the
rest of the family. A canvas
tent, properly foored and fur
nished and placed in the yard
surrounding the home, is almost
ideal for the purpose. Nourish-
ing food prepared in the family
kitchen is available; the compan-
ionship OF the family is possible
and home interests and doings
afford the all important mental
occupation and diversion.
The further development of
the idea includes also the extern
sion of the district nursing sup
ervision, by which the entire
state is divided into sections,
each under the direct care of a
competent nurse, who has an ac-
quaintance with every tubercu-
lar patient and who by frequent