1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910454552203321

Autore

Connolly Cynthia A (Cynthia Anne)

Titolo

Saving sickly children [[electronic resource] ] : the tuberculosis preventorium in American life, 1909-1970 / / Cynthia A. Connolly

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Brunswick, N.J., : Rutgers University Press, c2008

ISBN

1-283-59814-0

9786613910592

0-8135-4594-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (200 p.)

Collana

Critical issues in health and medicine

Disciplina

362.196/995

Soggetti

Tuberculosis in children - United States - Prevention - History

Tuberculosis - Hospitals - United States - History

Children - Hospitals - United States - History

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Child-saving in the United States -- Tuberculosis: a children's disease -- Founding the preventorium -- The preventorium goes nationwide -- Science and the preventorium -- Tuberculosis in the "world of tomorrow" -- Conclusion: saving children, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Sommario/riassunto

Known as "The Great Killer" and "The White Plague," few diseases influenced American life as much as tuberculosis. Sufferers migrated to mountain or desert climates believed to ameliorate symptoms. Architects designed homes with sleeping porches and verandas so sufferers could spend time in the open air. The disease even developed its own consumer culture complete with invalid beds, spittoons, sputum collection devices, and disinfectants. The "preventorium," an institution designed to protect children from the ravages of the disease, emerged in this era of Progressive ideals in public health. In this book, Cynthia A. Connolly provides a provocative analysis of public health and family welfare through the lens of the tuberculosis preventorium. This unique facility was intended to prevent TB in indigent children from families labeled irresponsible or at risk for developing the



disease. Yet, it also held deeply rooted assumptions about class, race, and ethnicity. Connolly goes further to explain how the child-saving themes embedded in the preventorium movement continue to shape children's health care delivery and family policy in the United States.