Tuberculosis Sanatoriums, Reaction Paper Example

Summary

The article covers the background of the spread of tuberculosis and the methods developed by local agencies to deal with the problem. The historical information provided in the article allows the reader to understand what contributed towards the spread of tuberculosis and how the crisis of the cities, over-population did increase the number of new cases. Finally, the article provides the reader with a case study on reform movements, campaigns to reduce the number of new cases and improve the health of the population.

Main Points

According to the author, the main reason for the tuberculosis epidemic in the end of the 19^th Century and the beginning of the 20^th Century was due to the living conditions in the cities, over-population due to the high rate of immigration and lack of local government control. The solution provided by the 20^th Century sanatorium provided a method of isolating infected patients from the rest of the population, reducing the risk of further infections, due to the contagious nature of the illness. San Francisco’s sanatoriums supported patients taking ownership of the problem.

Response

The article highlights the fact that tuberculosis sanatoriums have a great importance in public health history. Creating these health institutions was a turning point when the government started to take responsibility for public health. Even though the sanatoriums could not help everybody and the mortality rate was still high, not to mention that the institutions usually only accepted mild or initial stage cases, as there was not much hope for people in an advanced state of the disease, the isolation and specialized care provided has helped stopping the epidemic that threatened the United States.