In 1900, one of the leading causes of death was from tuberculosis (TB). Combined with diphtheria, pneumonia and enteritis, it was responsible for over 30 percent of all deaths during this time. Of these deaths, over 40 percent were children under the age of 5. (CDC, 1999)
(Contributed By: Ginni O. and Kelly F.)Tuberculosis, also known as phthisis, scrofula, bronchitis, hectic fever, gastric fever, lupus, the great white plague or consumption, can be traced as far back to 5000 BC. It was said that Columbus brought the disease to America in 1492 (Winterer, 2007). Throughout the years it claimed many lives and was extremely hard to diagnose. The disease traveled from New England to the Midwest with the industrial revolution, and then to the west by 1880. By 1882 TB was running rampant throughout North America killing nearly one in seven people (Winterer, 2007).
(Contributed By: Leslie S.)
With the discovery of the organism and the invention of the x-ray, TB was more easily identified and monitored closely. A skin test was also discovered to identify people that were infected. A sanatorium movement then began in 1886. Patients suffering from TB were placed in overcrowded long term facilities known as a sanatorium to receive better nutrition and rest (Croft, 2005). Along with better infection control, a
sanatorium was the treatment of choice for TB at this time before antibiotics were discovered in 1944 (Winterer, 2007). By 1889 it was discovered that the diseased was preventable, and a committee was formed called The National Association to the Prevention of Tuberculosis (NAPT) to educate the community. Their main focuses were better nutrition, fresh air, and clean drinking water. People were also taught not to overcrowd their homes, and not to overwork (Croft, 2005). The NAPT committee soon realized that their main problem was poverty, and that was a much bigger issue to tackle.
(Contributed By: Leslie S.)
An uproar began in 1892 when Dr. Herman Biggs implemented mandatory reporting of all TB cases. Dr. Biggs wished to better educate the public on the disease and properly isolate those that are infected. He wanted to analyze their sputum, and have the health department visit their homes. Many physicians thought that this violated their patient confidentiality, and did not adhere to the mandatory reporting for several years. Eventually, Dr. Biggs ideas created a platform for TB control programs (Winterer, 2007).
(Contributed By: Leslie S.)It was not until the mid 1900’s that the public became more aware of this disease. With better education, antibiotics, and the governments help to reduce poverty the number of cases began to decrease.
(Contributed By: Leslie S.)
It wasn't until the Progressive Era that people actually knew TB was caused by a germ. Until then they had thought it was a hereditary disease. TB was actually declining during the progressive era but it still proved a major health risk. TB accounted for one out of every ten deaths and particularly targeted young adults. TB spread fast in the unsanitary tenements found in big cities. You'd find people cramped together, whole families living in one small room with no running water. If one person in the family had TB they'd all become carriers. (Tomes,1998)
(Contributed By: Mabruka Y.) 
There was no cure and the only treatment seemed to be long and expensive stays in a sanitarium, but even then most people just died. Public health department teamed with various other anti-tuberculin groups and created a major campaign to fight the disease through education and prevention. The anti-tuberculosis movement was the first big public health movement, and groups
like Easter Seals and Christmas Seals led the way in campaigning. They were so successful in their campaign that other health related organizations copied them for years to come. They started with pamphlets which were common for those days. They found only TB victims and their families were really the only ones reading them. They
need to find a way to reach the people living in the cramped tenements who necessarily couldn't read English that is if they could read at all. Posters were placed that promoted personal hygiene as being a major factor in preventing TB. Once film started getting big the health department hired directors to create movies about the consumptives plight in order to educate the pubic further. (Tomes, 1998)
(Contributed By: Mabruka Y.)
During the 19th century, there was a shift from country to urban city life as our nation entered in to the industrial revolution. For many, city life was synonymous with skyscrapers, lights, action, opportunity and romance . However, many of the incoming immigrants were forced to join the urban poor , living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions . This unfortunately led to repeated outbreaks of deadly diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, influenza, malaria, yellow fever and small pox. For millions, city life meant slums, crime, poverty , disease and death. (Contributed By: Ginni O. and Kelly F.)
