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.
Reportar esta entrada
Más sobre la misma comunidad-colección
Lorenzo Luna Honored - Company E
Lorenzo Luna honored at the Paso Del Norte Hotel with dinner for ...
Terraza en el techo del Hotel Paso del Norte - 1915
The only hotel in the world offering its guest a safe, ...
El Paso Scottish Rite - Mural - 2017
On Loan from Hal Marcus, Owner - 2001 Artist: Bill Rakocy - ...
National Society of the Colonial Dames of America - 2017
El Paso Town Committee – of the National Society of the ...
National Society of the Colonial Dames of America -2017
National Society of the Colonial Dames of America - 2017 El ...
National Society of the Colonial Dames of America - 2017
El Paso Town Committee – of the National Society of the ...
Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana
This is the Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana, located in Quinta ...
Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana
Santuary of the Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana, in Quinta & ...
Carl Robinson: Northeast City Representative - District 4
Carl Robinson is a member of the El Paso City Council in Texas, ...
Black El Paso Democrats along with Deidra Pratt
Black El Paso Democtrats celebrating our Embassador.
El Paso Chihuahuas PCL championship rings
The El Paso Chihuahuas give out replica championship rings ...