The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-21


 determined ito fight the disease and to give succor and aid-to those who can not afford the proper medical treatment 1 themselves, but who can be cured, if only the good people of this country will give their support to the movement and ! make 1t possible for the consumptive tc
 have a chance in life
 A few days ago I went with that ! blessed man, Dr. George Raves. secretary | of the ti-Tuberculosis association, who
 has given up his ministry for which he was trained, which he dearly loved, which was his life work to become a
 worker in the great fight against tuber- culosis, feeling as he does that in this ] way he reaches a. class of people-suf- fering humanity-to whoIn-he can minis ter both as to body and soul, in far larger, more tangible and more potent way than he could in the ministry to make a little visit to the "dispensary' and "sanatorium."
 Stepping into the neat. orderly abode Of the "djspensary, which pr. 1saves told me is the one and only piece of property owned by the Alabama Anti Tuberculosis league. 8 personally con- ducted tour divulged many interesting and practical features.
 In the first place, Miss Bertha Clement, the chief of the staff of four visiting nurses, was our hostess, and her deep. earnest interest in the wonderful work she is doing, shines forth from, her radi- ant eyes and is expressed in every angle of her beautiful personality
 Miss Clement, with a pride equaled only by that of pr. Eaves, will show you the various consulting rooms; the rooms the rooms for the examination of the eye, ear, nose and throat; the consulta- ton rooms, <where modern and up-to- date advice can be freely administered to those who seek it
 Tho big rooms where box after box of
 tin foi1-gathered by the children all over
 the city, at the Sunday schools and public
 schools-is stored. this meaningless stuff
 which comes offSof but everything from
 chewing-gum to cheese-when enough is
 gathered together--meaning much to the
 work of tho fight against tuberculosis,
 when converted into dollars and cents.
 There is a roomful too. of old tires
 ugly, big. rlsty-looking things, which
 spell nothing to anybody, yet when sold bring in few dollars. all of which helps some poor, suffering creature.
 At tho "dispensary." which is tho
 clearing house, as it were. between the home-life of the patient and the san atorium. the inquirer who has fears that tuberculosis is towering over him, will be told that getting well does not mean the taking of lot of medicine. There is no medicine which by itself cures tuberculosis while the patient keeps on living the old kind of life, Nothing has done more harm in this disease than the habit of taking patent medicines. which
 make lying claims to cure the trouble, when in fact they only stop the cough and pain by the opiates in them, which makes death easier. but not any less sure or quick. Hence, any medicine which claims to cure tuberculosis ss on the face of it, a fake and its maker liar. Avoid all such if you value your life. Some medicines which your doctor can give you are a help. but you are one recommended by your physician.
 When an intelligent doctor has found out your trouble, make every effort to get into well-conducted sanatorium for tuberculosis; or, if this is impossible. at least to attend the tuberculosis dispen- the tuberculosis class, if there is one. If you cannot afford to got special cli- mate and get there comfortable and proper conditions, go to the state, city or county tuberculosis hospital"
 Nothing has helped conditions I ore than the instruction given in our clinic to those patients who must take the cure at their homes" said pr. Eases. "Our visiting nurses go into hovel and, mart; make investigations where in- vestigations are not wanted they in- SlEuCL tEc pdlitHt, nut 'iOW NV cure himself. but how to- prevent the rest of his family from contracting tu- berculosis. The use of sputum cups. fresh air, porper food, proper clo.ning all this is carried right into the homo by the visiting nurse--four of whom are~occupied continually in the work. One of these nurses has charge of the negro cases. These, of course, are most pitiable, poverty and filth and deprav- ity often accompanying them. Some how the living conditions of the negro seeir to generate the disease, which flourishes and spreads under such com diticns.'
 At the rdispensary'' you will also be told that If proper and conscientious care is taken, there need be no danger to you at all from ccnsumptive living