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.

Área: Central / Downtown

Fuente: El Paso County Medical Society

Cargado por: El Paso Museum of History

Comentarios

Hacer un comentario
Gracias por su comentario

Reportar esta entrada

Elige la razón más importante para este reporte

Tu nombre

Tu correo electrónico

Detalle opcional

Gracias por su reporte

Más sobre la misma comunidad-colección

Mi amor y yo

Love u - photograph of couple downtown El Paso, Texas.

William Lee Petroff - 1965 - El Paso, Tejas

Bill Petroff - police officer who retired in 1977 - rank was ...

"Caminando hacia el pasado"

The Consulate General of Mexico and Centro Cultural Mexicano ...

Lulac Sweetheart Charity Ball - 1971

Adela (Lily) Lerma - Mercado contestant for Lulac Sweetheart ...

Pedro Lerma Sr. - 2000

Pedro Lerma Sr. during a wedding at the hotel El Camino Hotel.

Boda - El Camino Real Hotel - 2000 - El Paso, Texas

Wedding at the El Camino Real Hotel - left to right - Pedro ...

"Infinito" de Alejandro Briseño

The Consulate General of Mexico and Centro Cultural Mexicano ...

"Clásico" de Alejandro Briseño - El Paso, Tejas

The Consulate General of Mexico and Centro Cultural Mexicano ...

Edward J. McVay y un trabajador - Pavimentando las carreteras de El Paso, Texas

Edward J. McVay spent his life working in many different ...

Edward J. McVay Pavimentando las carreteras de El Paso, Texas

Edward J. McVay spent his life working in many different ...

Edward J. McVay Pavimentando las carreteras de El Paso, Texas

Edward J. McVay spent his life working in many different ...

Fiesta de pintura neón 2k15

Neon paint party in downtown El Paso, Texas.

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Photograph during the San ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Photograph during the San ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Photograph during the San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Ashley ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Photograph during the San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Ashley ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Photograph during the San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Ashley ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

The mascot for the El Paso Public Library - celebrating opening ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Mascot for the El Paso Public Library -- celebrating the opening ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Photograph of the statue in the center of the plaza.

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Photograph of the statue in the center of the plaza.

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Members of the El Paso Fire Department at the opening for San ...

La apertura de San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

Members of the El Paso Fire Department at the opening for San ...

home.search_collection