St. Luke's Hospital - El Paso, Texas

St. Luke's Hospital - El Paso, Texas

The image shows the St. Luke's Hospital in the 1900s. It was one of the first hospitals in town which treated tuberculosis patients. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, tuberculosis spread rapidly in the United States. Throughout most of the 19th century, pulmonary tuberculosis was thought to be a hereditary disease aggravated by humid air, damp soil, lack of exercise, inadequate diet, and overcrowded and poorly ventilated housing. However, in 1882, German physician Robert Koch described the rod-shaped organism called the tubercle bacillus that causes tuberculosis. The microscopic bacteria were impossible to destroy unless exposed to heat or light. Since most infections came from people with pulmonary TB, such people needed to be isolated to check the spread of the disease. The Southwest, including El Paso, was considered ideal for the treatment of TB because of its dry, warm climate. It attracted TB patients from all over the country. The completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1881 encouraged tuberculars to come west. Early care of TB patients consisted of sitting in parks to absorb the sun and convalescence in private homes. This method was ineffective and many people died. The migration of infected persons in search of a climatic cure created a major public health problem for sections of the Southwest from the late 1890s through the 1920s. During this period, many sanatoriums and hospitals opened to treat tuberculars and this deadly disease helped establish El Paso as a health center. Dr. J. Shelton Hoseley opened St. Luke's Hospital at 199 Missouri Street in El Paso, Texas in 1900. He sold it to Dr. Charles B. Hanson in 1903 and then founded another large hospital treating mainly TB patients.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: El Paso County Medical Society

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Sunsets in El Paso at Southwest University Park

A look at the sunset from Southwest University Park

Ghanaian dancer Efe Plange at the El Paso Museum of History

Traditional Ghanaian dancer Efe Plange performs traditional ...

Ghanaian dancer Efe Plange at the El Paso Museum of History

Traditional Ghanaian dancer Efe Plange performs traditional ...

Ghanaian dancer Efe Plange at the El Paso Museum of History

Traditional Ghanaian dancer Efe Plange performs traditional ...

El Paso Community College 50th Anniversary Exhibition at EPMH

El Paso Community College (EPCC) celebrates their 50th ...

El Paso Community College 50th Anniversary Exhibition at EPMH

El Paso Community College (EPCC) celebrates their 50th ...

Tereso Contreras Opening Night of Pride Cinema at EPMH

The exhibition features films focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the ...

Opening Night of Pride Cinema at EPMH - June 1st - PRIDE Month

The exhibition features films focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the ...

Opening Night of Pride Cinema at EPMH - June 1st PRIDE Month

The exhibition features films focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the ...

Photographs by Manuel Rivera - Pride Cinema at EPMH

The exhibition features films focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the ...

Pride Cinema Installation Time Lapse

Behind the Scenes snapshot of Pride Cinema Mural Painting. ...

Pride Cinema at EPMH

The exhibition features films focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the ...

Tereso Contreras Opening Night of Pride Cinema at EPMH

Drag King, Tereso Contreras performing on June 1st opening night ...

Pride Cinema at EPMH

The exhibition features films focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the ...

San Ignacio de Loyola Catholic Church Matachines

Pictured are the San Ignacio de Loyola Catholic Church ...

Education Day

Education Day at the El Paso Chihuahuas game at Southwest ...

Women at Community Memorial Service, El Paso, TX 14 Aug 2019

The City of El Paso is hosted a Community Memorial Service to ...

August 3rd Community Memorial Service

The City of El Paso is hosted a Community Memorial Service to ...

August 3rd Community Memorial Service

The City of El Paso is hosted a Community Memorial Service to ...

August 3rd Community Memorial Service

The City of El Paso is hosted a Community Memorial Service to ...

August 3rd Community Memorial Service

The City of El Paso is hosted a Community Memorial Service to ...

August 3rd Community Memorial Service

The City of El Paso is hosted a Community Memorial Service to ...

August 3rd Community Memorial Service

The City of El Paso is hosted a Community Memorial Service to ...

home.search_collection