The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-14

he began mis- intensive observations resulting in
the present methods of treatment of the disease
This little cottage was the nucleus from which
sprang Trudeau sanatorium, a world-famous cen
ter for treatment and research and some 6OO
other sanatoria throughout the country.
Incidentally, Doctor Trudeau's first patient was
himself. At the time the diagnosis of the disease
was equivalent to sentence of death. No cure
was known, and the unfortunate individual con-
tracing it could only mark time against the in
evitable. But Edward Livingston Trudeau
changed all that.
Trudeau was born in New York city on Octo-
Der 5, 1S4S, the son of family of doctors, for
both his own father and his mothers father were
physicians. His father was also a lover of the
outdoors, friend of the great authority on birds,
John James Audubon whom he accompanied on
some of the naturaliSts scientific expeditions and
for whom he often drew illustrations of birds
and eggs. Young Trudeau inherited his fathers
love for the woods and this was to play an inn
portaht part in his later life.
When Trudeau grew up he was not quite sure
what he wanted to do. An older brother had
gone into business, but this did not appeal to
him. Finally he decided upon career at sea
and he was about to enter the United States
Naval academy when something happened that
was to change his whole life. His brother be-
came very i'll of tuberculosis and young Edward
gave up his appointment to Annapolis and re-
turned home to nurse his brother to whom he
was greatly devoted
In those days the infectious nature of tuber-
culosis was not fully understood and young Tru-
deau did not realize that his devotion to his
brother would so seriously affect his own health.
OF this Trudeau in his autobiography says
1--WE occupied the same room and sometimes
the same bed. bathed him and brought his
meals to him, and when he felt well enough to
go downstairs carried him up and down on my
back and tried to amuse and cheer him through
the long days of fever and sickness ;. Not
only did the doctor never advise any precautions
to protect me against infection, but he told me
repeatedly never to open the windows, as it
would aggravate the cough; and never did, I'M
til toward the end my brother was so short of
breath that he asked for fresh air. :. How
strange that, after helping stife my brother and
injecting myself through such teaching as was
then in vogue, should have lived to save my
own life, and that of many others, by the simple
expedient of an abundance of fresh air!"
After his brothers death, Trudeau realized
that he must start again on choosing career,
there being an added incentive in the fact that
he had fallen in love with New York girl,
Charlotte Beare. He finally decided to become
doctor and in the fall of 1868 he entered the
College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York
city.
Miss Beare allowed Trudeau to announce his
engagement to her a year before he was gradu-
ated from medical school The young couple went
abroad after their marriage on June 20, 1871. On
the return trip Trudeau began to show symptoms
of tuberculosis but they we're not understood as
symptoms at that time. He and his wife took
little cottage on Long Island and there spent
very happy year. But Trudeau felt that he would
make more progress in his profession if he were
two months later he was offered a partnership
with well-known physician. After Trudeau was
settled in New York he began to feel tired all
the time and was advised to have his lungs ex-
amined The doctor who examined him told him
that his left lung was actively tuberculous.
In those days consumption was considered alb
s0lutely fatal Trudeau says:
Il pulled myself together, put as good face
on the matter as could, and escaped from the
Office, after thanking the doctor for his examina-
ton. When got outside, as l stood on Doctor
Janeway's stoop felt stunned 1t seemed to
We the world had suddenly grown dark. The sun
was shining, 1t is true and the street was filed
with the rush of noise and traffic, but to me the
whole world had lost every vestige of brightness.
/ had consumption-that most fatal of diseases
Had not seen it In all its horrors in my broth
er's case? 1t meant death and / had never
thought of death before Was / ready to die?
How could ! tell my wife, whom, had just left
in unconscious happiness with the little baby in
our new homer And my rose-colored dreams OF