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

achievement and professional success IN New
York; They were all shattered now and in their
place only exile and the inevitable end re-
mainedw s~1-
srudeau thought that if he had only short
time to live he would like to spend it in the
"peace of the great wilderness" He decided to
go to the Adirondacks because of his love for
the great forest and the wild life. In May 1873,
after long, tiresome journey, he and friend
reached Paul Smiths, famous hunting lodge in
the Adirondacks. Mrs. Paul Smiths brother car
ried Trudeau upstairs, and put him down on the
bed. Trudeau says he made the comforting re-
mark: why, Doctor, you don't weigh no more
than dried lamb-skin!" But Trudeau didn't
mind, for he was so happy to be in his beloved
woods once more that he forgot the hardships
of the trip.
Lie in the mountain wilderness did wonders
for him. In September he returned to the city
with a gain of 10 pounds. But he soon lost
ground again in his fight for health and again
he went to the Adirondaeks to spend the sum-
mer Then he decided to spend the winter there,
too but it was with difficulty that he persuaded
Paul Smith to permit him to stay, for so deep
rooted was the belief that a consumptive should
seek warm climate and avoid colds and storm
that Smith did not want to be party to the
consequences if Trudeau subjected himself to
the rigors Of an Adirondack winter Trudeau
won the argument however, and stayed. On his
hunting trips during that winter the observa-
lions began which resulted in complete revolu-
tion in the treatment of this disease.
81 found" said Doctor Trudeau, that could
not walk far enough to stand much chance of
seeing any game or getting shot without feel
ing sick and feverish next day, and this was
the first intimation had of the value of the
rest cure. 1 walked very little after this, and
my faith in the cure became more and more
fully established"
From this time on Trudeaus health improved
and it was not long before he began casting
about for ways and means to let other sufferers
share in the benefits he was deriving He
CHANGED to read of a Silesan sanatorum, Doc
tor Brehmers, and he began working on the idea
of one for the AdirondackS
No information was available on the building
of sanatoria, but Doctor Trudeau felt that close
housing should be avoided and that segregation
such as could be secured by the cottage plan
was preferable, as by this means abundant fresh
air supply could be secured and the irritation
of constant close contact with strangers avoided.
Friends in New York began contributing funds
and Little Red" was the first cottage built 1t
consisted of a single room, IA by 49, with d
small porch. 1t was furnished with two beds and
was heated by woodworking stove. This little
cottage, now kept as relic and museum, was
the first sanatorium in the United States where
the modern treatment of tuberculosis was given.
AS Doctor Trudeau's work became known he
began receiving the cooperation of leaders in the
medical profession, and his sanatorium became
an assured success His single-handed fight to
regain his own health had resulted in so much
good to others that he was looked upon as a
leader in his field land when the National Tuber-
culoss association was formed in 1904 he was
unanimously chosen it's first president.
In the years from 1898 to 1904, when the sana-
forum was growing so rapidly, great sorrow
came to Trudeau and his wife. In these years
they lost their daughter, Chatte, beautiful
young girl, and their son, Ned young man OF
great promise who had just started to practice
medicine in New York. In speaking of his sons
death, Trudeau says: Through all these terrible
dark days, the tender sympathy and love of our
friends and his friends shone, and shines even
now. like soft light in the midst of impene-
trable gloom"
In spite of his sorrow and falling health Tru-
deau kept his own light burning. 1t is burning
still, although Trudeau died in 1915. The Tru-
deau sanatorium at Saranac lake is the living
symbol of Trudeau. The Trudeau spirit is still
alive there and it will live as long as the per-
sonality OF this man is remembered. It is like
lamp set In the wilderness for all those who need
help and comfort In their battle against tuber-
culosis and the CHEEKY colors of this years
Christmas seals are at once tribute to Edward
Livingston Trudeau and beac0ns of hope to those
stricken by the white plague
@by Western Newspaper Union.