Dr. Philip of Edinburgh was the first to systematically and completely organize the anti-tuberculosis campaign. In 1887 he inaugurated that new institution, the anti-tuberculosis dispensary, which has since rendered such inestimable service. The fundamental principle of the Edinburgh system is that the disease should be sought out in its haunts.
The first dispensary in the United States was opened in New York in 1904, modeled after the Edinburgh system. About the same time came the Open Air Schools—Charlottenburg establishing one in 1904 and Providence, R. I., following in 1908. The first Day Camp in the United States was opened in 1905 in Boston. New Jersey established the first Preventorium for Children at Farmingdale in 1909. All this naturally led to better provision for advanced cases; sanatoria for hopeful cases at small cost; factory inspection; and, in some countries, industrial colonies for arrested cases.
The tuberculosis patient of today presents a hopefulness previously undreamt of. The outlook is brighter with promise than ever before, and we have every reason to look forward to a steady reduction in the mortality rate from this dread disease; but the extinction of tuberculosis will be achieved only when the social and economic problems have been solved.
VISITING TUBERCULOSIS NURSING IN VARIOUS CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES
By ANNA M. DRAKE, R. N.
Head Nurse, Policlinic Dispensary of the Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium.
BALTIMORE
In 1903, the first visiting tuberculosis nurse was assigned in Baltimore to follow up patients of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Out-patient Department. Her duties were varied as are the duties of the present day tuberculosis nurse. She was to instruct patients in the use of sunlight and fresh air and was allowed to furnish them with special diet in the shape of milk and eggs. She investigated home conditions and helped improve sleeping quarters. She placed patients in sanatoria, or brought them back to the dispensary for treatment. She gave bedside care to advanced cases, if she could not get them into hospitals, and applied to relief organizations for help in solving the problems of the family. From time to time other nurses of the Baltimore Visiting Nurse Association were assigned to the work, other dispensaries and agencies began referring cases to be followed up, and the work grew to such proportions as to be almost unmanageable for a private organization.