Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/625

. A. Pierce.

Tuberculosis, commonly known as consumption, has been the terror of the human race for thousands of years. Within the last forty years the medical pro- fession has come to a more definite understanding of the cause of the disease, and has made more progress in curing it than in the previous two thousand years. Since the microscopic discovery of minute germs or cells as the causes of dis- ease, reasonable practice and great hope has taken the place of blind guess work, and hopeless endeavors.

Now in 1910 specialists in the treatment of consumptives lay down the rules enforced at the above sanitorium, as follows :

1st. Don't spit on the pavement, on the street, nor into any place where you cannot destroy the germs which you spit up.

2d. Do not swallow any spit. Try not to cough. Whenever you must cough, hold a paper napkin in front of your mouth, so that particles will not fly out into the room.

3d. Always use a paper napkin to wipe your mouth after spitting, and be careful to not soil your hands.

4th. Always carry a cheap paper bag in your pocket to put the napkins in after being once used.

5th. Burn the paper bag with the napkins which you have deposited in it.

6th. Do not let any spit get on your clothing, bed clothing or furniture.

7th. Never kiss any person on the mouth.

8th. Live in the fresh air as much as possible.

9th. Sleep with the windows wide open, or in a tent if possible.

Everyone should be prepared to battle with consumption. This disease spares no class of people.

Weakly persons, particularly those who have been exposed to the disease, should be constantly on their guard against it.

Correct living with plenty of physical exercise and regular habits is the great- est safeguard against consumption.

Because one member of a family has consumption, it is no reason why other members of the family should take the disease.

If they do take it, it is because some one has been careless in not observing the rules set forth for the consumptives to follow, and not because it is inherited or unavoidable.

Consumption is positively a preventable disease, and the family that allows it to spread from one of its members to another are either ignorant or careless in observing the rules of health and prevention of disease.

THE PATHETIC SIDE.

The hope of relief from the terrors of this disease has prompted efforts of all sorts and in every direction. Portland has had several of these well meant but ill-fated propositions. The open air sanitorium above described is supported by wealthy men, and planned on business methods that insures its permanence. But other efforts not so supported but equally devoted to the welfare of the afflicted, deserve notice. A devoted Catholic sister — Mary Theresa — with a little money and a beautiful place, is devoting it all, with her own personal service, to the relief of consumptive patients. And this, all she has, she has offered as a free gift for the foundation of another and larger hospital for consumptives.

Oak Grove is located near Pine station, on the electric line between Port- land and Oregon City. Three acres of land constitute the site, which Sister Theresa explains was bought with money left her by her mother, and which is covered with trees, roses and shrubbery.

The sister says : "Since the opening of the sanitorium about two years and a half ago, its doors have been open to all those afflicted with consumption — rich and poor — those in the early stages of the disease, and the incurables. The highest rate that has been paid by a patient was $15 a week, and from that the