The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-10-13
Home. Treatment
OF tuberculosis
ossa-t.ss-seto - ~.

every step OF its development.
It isn't a cure for the advanced
stages-no one claims that-but in
the earlier approach of the disease
it may ward it off and effectsa prac-
tical cure.
1t has been said by high authority
that one person in every seven is
affected by this disease at some time
in his life, that the scars would be
revealed by post, norton cxamina-
ton. In a large number of such
cases the vitality of the individual
and the proper care are sufficient to
counteract the advance of the dis
ease beyond the beginnings.
| 1t is an established fact that fresh
air, uncontaminated by TIE poisons
that float about us everywhere in the
! environments of what we call our
highest civilization, is the best pre-
ventive of diseases in general. The
oxygen of the air work destruction
to many varieties of disease germs,
and particularly is this true of tu-
berculosis.
The fresh air treatment has many
advantages. 1t is cheap-cheaper
than drugs--it is within the reach of
all, and it becomes merely a mat
ter of recognizing the fact and of
applying it. Every obstruction that
,, prevents the free circulation of the
out door air to our living, whetn-
err we are awake or asleep, lessons
the active efficiency of the cure. This
fact has been recognized by medi
cal science to the extent that large
sums of money appropriated for the
erection of great sanitariums for the
treatment of the disease, remain un-
expended in more than one north
ern State.
In the great federal prison at At
lanta, all tubercular patients are
separated from their fellow prison.
ers and are made to live in the open
air, in tents, under guard within the
walls that surround the institution.
The results have been a splendid
demonstration of the value of the
treatment.
There are hundreds and thou
sands Of persons in humble circum-
stances who fear even the incipient
case Of tuberculosis as the forerun-
ner of certain death. To some ex-
tent, even a large extent, this fear
is unnecessary, for with the easy
availability of fresh air, there is
the possibility, even, in some cases,
the probability of cure.
Two things are essential-one Is
to secure, so far IS possible, the
welfare of the patient; the other to
protect those who are about him.
tuberculosis is very rarely COM
in open air, and there
only by dry sputum. This makes |
association with the patient by
those who attend him, safer out of |
doors than within solid walls.
Few families or persons are so |
poor that they cannot provide a tent !
or other protection in the yard sur
rounding the home or in some easily |
accessible place. The essential is
that the air shall have free circula-
ton, and protection is needed only
against rain or the hot sun. In the
tent, which should be floored and
furnished comfortably, but not elab-
orately, the patient should sleep and
live. Here his meals should be eat
en- and not with the family. The
linen of his bed and his clothing
should be washed separately from
hat of the family, and every pre-
caution should be taken for the pro-
.ection of others.
In this way the tubercular patient
nay have the benefit of home cook
ng, of home care; his mind may be
with home interests, and
he mental occupation and diver :
ion from his own troubles are no ,
mall part of the cure. And better !
ret, his separation from other tu-
'ercular patients is important. for
UGH association, as in a sanitarium.
detrimental influence. |:
The home treatment Of tubercu-
osis, the constant saturation in the .
resh air, are within the resources
# the humblest, or they may be OBJ
aimed almost everywhere with ont
side assistance. A recognition of 4
he value of these methods. which
re particularly favored by the eli
natic conditions of Florida. would ,
YORK wonderful reduction Of the
tatistical figures regarding tuber.
ulosis.