1840-1903: Open air treatment for consumption

Figure 1 -1899, National Jewish Hospital, TB patients treated with sunlight (4)

Around the turn of the 20th century tuberculosis was a common ailment, and a leading cause of death.  Yet it also lead to a general feeling of gloom among the populace, especially considering little was known about it and there was no cure.  Yet if you had it there was hope, thanks to places like sanatoriums and hospitals like National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives in Denver Colorado.

In the 1840s Hermann Brehmer (1826-1889) was diagnosed with the condition and he told his doctor he might benefit from the open air of the Himalayas.  He also decided there might be benefits from isolating tuberculosis patients from the rest of the community, so he created hydrotherapy institution in Gorbesdorf, which is a village in Silesia, Germany. 

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At first he had trouble convincing the medical community he was on the right track, but ultimately he became so successful that various sanatoriums opened in mountainous areas all over Europe and the United States.  One famous one in the United States was built in Denver, Colorado in 1899 by the Jewish Community. 

Many of the Jewish Community who were struck with tuberculosis were flocking to the Denver area because of it's fresh, dry, mountainous air.  Yet many of these victims were without enough money to be able to afford food or housing.

This was brought to the attention of Frances Wishbart Jacobs who worked hard to raise money to build shelter for these destitute victims of consumption.  She was able to find support from members of the Jewish Community and then to generate enough money to build an institution.  (1)

National Jewish Hospital 1892

In 1892 Jacobs died, and a year later the building was finished.  Yet the country was also mired in a recessions that year prompted by the silver crisis, and this resulted in a lack of funds to open the facility.  The building laid empty until Rabbi William S. Friedman took up a project to complete and open the institution.  (2)

The doors to the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives opened in 1899 with the motto: "None may enter who can pay -- none can pay who enter." (1)  While it was originally built by the Jewish Community, anyone was allowed to enter who needed help.  (2)

One of the original therapies for tuberculosis patients in Denver was to receive heliotherapy, which was sunlight therapy (See figure 1).  It was believed that sunlight would help them "combat the disease."  (3)  This type of therapy, along with open air therapy altogether, was supported by Thomas Beddoes (1803-49), who performed many tests on respiratory patients, and Herrmann Brehmer (1826-89), who, as noted, opened the first sanitorium.  (3, page 37)

Figure 4 -- Open air therapy for TB patient at his home (3, page 38)

Studies were also done that showed TB patients recover faster in the winter than summer months.  In fact, "Dr. Otto Walther says he not infrequently had an inch of snow on his blankets.  At some localities tents are the only shelter, but whether the patients are housed in cottages or in tents, the free access of air must be absolute and uninterrupted. Drafts are not feared. At night the windows, which should constitute at least one side of the room or ward, are kept open; in some places the sashes are removed altogether; the sides of the tents are rolled up, except in the severest storms. In very cold weather the head and hands may be protected with woolen cap and gloves, and at all times the patients are well provided with blankets. In summer the beds or reclining chairs are moved into the open or into covered porches during the day; for the winter most places are provided with glass porches or sun parlors; where the patients spend their days in bed or reclining in steamer chair." (3, page 38)

(5, page 44)

The benefits of open air therapy as reported were: (3, page 39)

• Reduction of the fever
• Improvement of the appetite,
• Induction of sleep

As noted, "Cough and night-sweats disappear in a short time, and, as a logical consequence, the medicinal treatment is reduced to a minimum. Antipyretic drugs are never used and expectorants are rarely required. Suralimentation (the belief that consumption could be cured by forcing them to eat) is practised in many places, especially in the German resorts, where it is pushed to an almost incredible degree; even bed patients with considerable pyrexia are placed on a full diet of meat and vegetables. Trudeau and Flick * content themselves with giving their patients three full meals a day, allowing them to drink milk between meals if they have a desire for it; when, however, there is anorexia, the patient is given raw eggs beaten up with milk every two or three hours." (3, page 39)

While open air treatment was utilized "judiciously" and based on "individual cases," the therapy could also be recommended for home use as well. (See figure 4) Patients may also benefit from treatment in tents, walks or rides in the open air.  (3, page 39)

Another type of therapy was pulmonary gymnastics, or exercise.  While this was debated as an effective therapy, it was often recommended at the various sanatoriums.

In 1895 a German by the name of Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen discovered the x-ray that allowed doctors to see the disease in its early as well as it's late stages.  This marked the first time that the disease could be diagnosed in its early stages instead of having to wait to see the late signs.  It also allowed doctors to see the tubercles in those who had survived the disease.  It showed both active and inactive tuberculosis.

References:

1. Gurock, Jeffrey S., ed., "American Jewish History," 1998, New York, vol. 3, part 3, pages 1095-6
2. "The History of National Jewish," NationalJewish.org, http://www.nationaljewish.org/about/whynjh/history/
3. Tissier, Pneumotherapy
4. Photo compliments of National Jewish Health, Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151140094301092&set=a.140185801091.110191.41885201091&type=1&theater, accessed on 10/20/12
5. Picture from the Journal of the Outdoor Life," National Tuberculosis Association, Volume XI, January, 1914, 10 cents an issue or $1.00 a year

1870: Briante's remedies for common respiratory ailments

John Goodale Briante published a book in 1870 listing natural remedies he said he learned from the Indians, and which are available to over "the whole surface of the earth." (1, page 10)

He said there was no need to see a physician, quack doctor or to purchase patent medicine.  He said: 

Any man'can tell when a medicine gives him relief, as well as a physician, and if he only knows the name and dose of the medicine, and the name of the disease he is enabled in many cases to defend himself from imposition.

At the present day, people have become so accustomed to patronizing Quack Doctors and Patent Medicines, that it has become proverbial that it is easier to cheat a man out of his life, than out of a dollar. This book is designed to meet the wants of the class referred to above, and is not the production of one who has a new system fo introduce, or a remedy for all aches and pains to sell, tut gives advice, founded on common sense, and Nature furnishes the remedy...

The best time to collect roots is late in the Fall, after the tops have died, or else in the Spring before they have started up. 

Herbs should be gathered when in full blossom, and should be dried in the shade. After they are well dried, they should be packed in something tight, as they will lose strength if exposed to the air. (1, page 17)

The following are some of his listed remedies for some of the most common ailments that a person might seek a physician or quack doctor for, or purchase patent medicine:

1. Cough:

Take one ounce of Elecampane, half an ounce of Hoarhound, an ounce and a half of Liquorice root, two ounces of Sulphur. Pulverize them, and add honey. Take a tea-spoonful, at intervals, as needful.

2.  Cough Mixture:

Take one ounce of Blood Boot, one ounce ot Senna leaves, one ounce of Anise Seed, one ounce of Senega Root; boil these together in one quart of water until half evaporated, then strain itand add four ounces of loaf sugar. Dose: one tea-spoonfid, three times a day. This is one of the best remedies ever used by any one, and should be kept in every family where there are children.

3.  Cough Mixture:

Take two ounces Tincture of Blood Root, one ounce Elixir Asthmatic, two ounces Hive Syrup; m:i thoroughly and give one tea-spoonful two or three times a day. The above ingredients can be obtained at any Drug Store.

4.  Cough:

Take 1 pound of Cumfrey, 1 pound of Spikenard, 1 pound Motherwort, 1/2 pound Oak of Jerusalem, 1/2 pound Balmonia, steap them together and give a wine-glassful, 3 times a day before eating. A half pound Hoarhound may be used in place of the Oak of Jerusalem. (1, page 31-32)

5.  Cough:

Take six drachms Tine. Bloodroot, six drachms Wine of Antimony, six drachms Wine of Ipecac, eight ounces Syrup Tolu, six ounces Mucilage of Gum Arabic, ten grains Sulph. Morphine. Mix these and giveone tea-spoonful three times a day. (1, page 47)

6.  Dropsy (edema):

Take blue or white Vervain, steep it and drink the decoction freely—this will carry away the water. Then give a Syrup made of the following:

Three pounds Sweet Fern, 2 ounces Pulsely, Yellow Dock; 1/4 pound, Pipsissewa or Wintergreen, 2 pounds: white Snake-root, 1/4 pound, or of the herb, 1 1/2 pounds; Bitter Sweet, 1/4 pound. Steep together, and, for an adult, give a wine-glassful, sweetened, 3 times a day or 5 times if it is a severe case. The above quantities are for one gallon, and it should be kept in a cool place. (1, page 29)

7. Whooping Cough

Take a quarter of a pound of Elecampane root, ground fine, mix with half a pint of strained Honey and half a pint of water—put them in a stone jar and place it in the oven with half the heat required to bake bread, let it remain till as thick as Honey. Dose for a child; one tea-spoonful before eating, for an adult, double that quantity. (1, page 32-33)

8.  Whooping Cough:

Take two ounces Wild Snow Ball park, and steep it in a quart of water. Dose:  One tablespoon, three times a day. (1, page 39)

9. Whooping Cough

Take three ounces of Chesnut leaves,'and boil in a pint of water for a short time only, then pour the whole into a teapot, without straining, and drink often, especially at bed-time, either cold or warm, with or without sugar.

10.  Whooping Cough:

Take one drachm Carb. Potass., ten grains of powdered Cochineal, one half pint boiling water, and refined sugar sufficient to form a syrup.

Dose: For an infant, one tea-spoonful, three times a day. In violent cases, the following Liniment should be well rubbed, morning and night, over the whole course of the Spine. One half ounce Aquai Ammonia and one half ounce Oil Amber, mixed.(1 page 53)

11.  Consumption:

Take Tamarack bark, without rossing, 1 peck; . Spikenard root, | pound, Dandelion root, J pound; Hops 2 ounces. Boil these together long enough to extract the strength, in two or three gallons of water —when it is lukewarm, put in 3 pounds of Honey, and 3 pints of good Brandy. Dose: a wine-glass three times a day before eating. It is not expected that all cases of Consumption can be cured, but many cases, called Consumption, have been cured by the use of this Syrup,and it is certainly worth a trial, and if the disease is not inherited there is great hope.

7.  Consumption:  Hoarhound—Very good in Coughs, Colds and all consumptive complaints. (1, page 91)

8.  Catarrh (common cold):

Take Red Clover blossoms, perhaps a double handful, put them in a pint and a half of water and steep very strong, strain off the liquor and boil it down very thick, till it is like wax, let it cool, then dry it in the sun or an oven till it is hard, then pound it very fine and use it for snuff.

This has cured many persons. (1, page 39)

These were all natural remedies available to all who had the wisdom to find and prepare them.  Prepare them for yourself and let us know how they work for you.

References:

1. Briante, John Goodale, "The Old Root and Herb Doctor, or the Indian Method of Healing," 1870, New Hampshire, Granite Book Company

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