The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-09-22
WHITE PLAGUE
IS WORSE THAN
BLACK PLAGUE
FLORIDA BOARD OF HEALTH IS
SUES A BULLETIN EXPLAINING
HOW TO COMBAT TUBERcULo-
SIS.

The following bulletin has been IS
sued by the Florida Board of Health:
The great white plague-tubercu-
losis-is more to be feared than the
Black Plague, the name given in his
tory to bubonic plague. for "pulmon-
airy consumption" is always with us.
It's approach and development are
slower and. if possible, more insid-
ious and stealthy, while bubonic plague
may be guarded against by well un-
derstood methods.
Tuberculosis-and here is meant
the disease as it affects the lungs
frequently gets a firm hold upon its
victim before its presence is even
suspected. It's greatest foe is fresh,
clean air, an unlimited supply of it.
1t is more efficient than medicines, tor
no drugs can stop tuberculosis.
The disease is not communicable
in open air, and this fact is recogniz-
ed in the modern treatment. Vast sums
are spent every year in the erection
and maintenance of hospitals. Penn
syIvania spends annually a million
dollars for this purpose, to provide
splendid buildings equipped and man
aged by experts; but these great sana-
torjat bff6G esq }fe in Set ld 5l or 86arg
houses for the poorer classes. Massa-
chusetts. the first of the states to
build such institutions by legislative
concentrations, is abandoning the plan
and others will surely follow the
policy, because it does not recognize
the full value of an unrestricted cir
cuIation of fresh air, such as is i'm
nOssibIe within walls and roofs OF
brick and stone and tile. no matter
how thoroughly ventilated.
The open-air sanatorium, which 1f-
fords protection only from the sun
and rain and storm, which welcomes
every breeze that blows, which brings
in unadulterated the sweet odors of
nature from the forest. is the nearest
ideal condition that science has recoS-
nfzed for the treatment Of the DIS
ease.
The enclosed sanatorium plan is al
most prohibitive by state aprropri-
alton on account Of its cost. In Flor
ida it is entirely impossible, as wen
as ineffi cient because both sexes ana
both races would have to be provided
for in separate institutions. Even the
open-air sanatorium idea is obJec-
tionable. only in less degree, for the
same reason.
The pIan favored by Florida's Board
q
cation Of the people to the facts about
the disease, its seriousness, its ways
of spreading and the responsibility Of
the individual. For the treatment Of
tuberculosis is not a matter for the
physician alone; it is largely a socio-
logical problem, for whose solution
popular sentiment and public opinion
must contribute their full co-opera-
ton.
The board urges the ope'n-air treat
ment. because it is available 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 can
vas tent properly floored and furnish
| ed and placed in the yard surround
| ing the home. is almost ideal for the
purpose. Nourishing food prepared IN
| the family kitchen is available; the
| cnnpanionsAip of the family is possible
and home interests and doings afford
| the all important mental occupation
i and diversion.
| The further development Of the idea
| includes the extension Of the d1StrlGi
| nursing supervision, by which the en-
| tire state is divided into sections, eacf
under the direct care or comreten
nurse. who has an acquaintance VIII
| every tubercuIar patient and who o1
frequent visits is enabled TO advise
and direct and teach.
The. plan is practical because 1t i
within the reach of all because /
segregates the individual patient from
other patients, and because it keep
him under the influence of acCustom
ed surroundings and friends. wherea
the removal from such environment
necessarily must have an influenc
more or less mentally depressing. An'
thus it has many advantages eve
! over the general open air sanatoriun
where are gathered many other vic
tins of the dread disease, whose con
versations are usually a continuoI
corrariscn Of symptoms and discus
sion Of the depressing conditions tina
have gathered them in one place 70
one plrpose-to fight off death as Ion