FUNCTIONS OF A CITY BOARD OF HEALTH 309 



enter the room of the person quarantined. After the disease has 

 run its course, the clothing, bedding, etc., in the sick room are dis- 

 infected. This is known as terminal disinfection. 



The best cures for tuberculosis are rest, plenty of fresh out-of-door air, and 



wholesome food. 



How the Board of Health fights Tuberculosis. — Tuberculosis, 

 which not many years ago killed fully one seventh of the people who 

 died from disease in this country, now kills less than one tenth. 

 This decrease has been brought about largely through the treat- 

 ment of the disease. Since it has been proved that tuberculosis, 

 if treated early enough, is cured by quiet living, good food, and 

 plenty of fresh air and light, we find that numerous sanitariums 

 have come into existence which are supported by private .or public 

 means. At these sani- 

 tariums the patients 

 live out of doors, and 

 sleep in the open air, 

 and have plenty of 

 nourishing food and 

 little exercise. The 

 Department of Health 

 of the city of New 

 York maintains a sani- 

 tarium at Otisville in 

 the Catskill Mountains 

 and similar sanitariums are maintained by most large cities. There 

 are many private sanitariums as well, maintained by various be- 

 nevolent orders. Here people who are unable to provide means 

 for getting away from the city are cared for, and a large per- 



H. NEW CIV. BIOL. 21 



A sanitarium for tuberculosis. 



