Treatment of Tuberculosis by Martha N. Canfield, M.D.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 3, 1914

Treatment of Tuberculosis

By Martha N. Canfield, M.D.

Rational Measures in the Home — Often Better than Change of Climate

By MARTHA N. CANFIELD, M.D.

THE laboratory reports have confirmed the doctor's fears — father's sputum contains the tubercular germ. What now? Of course the good man has been working with might and main to pay for the home, and to give Mary her music, and John his chance at college, and has forgotten himself. No vacation, hardly a holiday, only work, work, work, in a dingy, ill-ventilated little office! A few months ago the children were ill for several weeks, and he acted as night nurse to save more expense; and of course, when attacked with grip, he was unable to recover well.

We have all heard this story, and have seen the pathetic setting forth from home in search of the lost treasure, health. The golden West is fabled to hold it for us — Colorado, Arizona, California, New Mexico, etc. Somewhere it is hiding, and we must find it. Let us stand for a moment in the ports of entry and study the arrivals. Here is a young man who has had that unusual termination of pneumonia called empyema, or abscess of the lungs. A portion of the rib has been resected and the lung properly drained. He arrived at our sanitarium from a hotel in the city, and we were obliged to return him to the same place, as we had no arrangements suitable to care for these cases. I remember that the surgeon with whom I saw this patient remarked with fervor as we left the room, "It is a crime to send a man like that away from home." He had come from Ohio to the West in this condition.

Another case was that of a young woman affected with tuberculosis, whose parents had wandered from place to place in search of health. Hers was then what is known as an arrested case of tuberculosis. Incidentally we learned these facts, when called to see the aged and feeble mother, who now needed medical attention and the care that could best be bestowed in the sanitarium. But the parents were reduced to penury by their migrations for the daughter.

While my sojourn in the West covered only a few years, the cases I saw of this malady, which claims its millions annually, made a deep impression; and I am glad to see the movement toward intelligent home care of our tubercular patients.

"The angel sought so far away, We welcome at our door."

Thus Whittier sang in "My Psalm," and so may the ones sing who are suffering of tuberculosis. It is outdoors they need, combined with good food and good nursing. How much more conducive to recovery it is to fix a tent or a sleeping porch at home for our patient, and keep him thus outdoors, dressed like an Eskimo if necessary, to brave the Eastern winter, but outdoors, in bed if he has a temperature, and quiet, at least until the temperature subsides. This measure, with good food from the home table, with feedings of milk if necessary between the meals, the cheerful atmosphere of home, and the kind home folks about, is better than desolation in a strange land for a patient doomed perhaps anyway.

Thorough isolation may be maintained right at home. In the tent or in the sleeping porch, the patient may be taught to co-operate with you. The dishes, dish-cloth, napkins, towels, etc., should be used only by the patient. The sputum should be burned quickly, never allowed to dry out and thus become a menace to others; and the mouth should be covered while coughing. No flies should be permitted in the tent, which should be thoroughly screened in summer; no carpets, curtains, nor bric-a-brac. Sunshine, air, rest, and freedom from anxiety — want of these was the chief factor in the etiology of the disease, and they are the remedies to be used in its cure. Observing these regulations makes it safe and possible for friends to visit the patient, provided that all kissing is left out.