Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-07

Gnar9CreriSIlC FcCuIidTlIieS.
 Any physician be he general prac- tioner Or consultant who has to deal with tuberculosis patients and who considers sanatorium treatment to be indicated, in many cases will be con fronted frequently, perhaps in the ma jority of cases which come under his observation, with a type of fear or preconcieved dislike for institutional treatment. The first thought with which this individual is possessed is the idea that he is sure to meet pa tients much sicker than himself, who are real conSumptives. while he inn agines himself to be only slightly tu- berculous. Perhaps it is only in the presence of the physician who diag- HOS the case that he is willing even to admit that he may be tuberculous. This particular state of mind which consists in not wishing to be classi- lied with other tuberculous patients CT only with those having weak lungs is pardonable although characteristic.
 It seems that typical tubercu- losiS patient does not like anything
 better than to find some physician, who in spite of the positive diagno- sis of several others, confirmed by positive sputum tests will declare that he only has weak lungs. When the
 patients fear of reinfection has been argued out of him, when he is told
 that the well equipped sanatorium is
 
 disease, he will bring forth another
 excuse for not wanting to go to the
 sanatorium. He will say he is un-
 able to bear the sight of other patients
 more ill then himself. He will fear the depressing influence of constant coughing by others, when the physi-
 elan will have assured him that there
 is less coughing in a sanatorium than during a, grippe epidemic in any street car of an average sized city, because in Q 9tOriI1n1 the nafinnt iG only allowed to cough when he must ex- pectorate- Cbeing taught to control his cough at all other times) which in the end will materially aid to his comfort and recovery, that the spirit and mental atmosphere of the sana- torium is one of hope and content ment the prospective SanatoriUm pa tient will bring forth the third eX cuse he will say but Doctor, I shall be stigmatized if it becomes known that I am tuberculosis and an ex-pa- tient of a sanatOrium My former em- ployeS will not wish to take me back into their office or shop. That there is some justification in this excuse we sentiment which is still rampant in some sections of the country and among some people who have not in formed themselves of the fact that the honest conscientious cOnSumptive particularly the one trained in the sanatorium is not a menace to his fel- low men, and that to the arrested case all avenues to work ana soci- | ety should be open.
 Education and Charity.
 We not only need d little more ed l ucation but also a little more charity | toward our consumptiVe fellow men. ! The tuberculosis problem will be solV- ! ed only, by a humane, just, sympathet- ! ic and helpful attitude toward pa l tients within and outside institutions. 1 When patients are rightly taught and l rightly trained they are bound to be- | come the most valuable Co-wOrkers i in our Anti-tuberculosiS propaganda. | and labors for the consumptive poor, { particularly so when they are imbued with the idea that though they may i be seemingly disabled they are still valueable and useful members of so- |