Part 2

The money paid into the league as dues goes to form a fund that is disbursed by the church league collecting it to help those of its members who contract consumption. How much this help will be will depend upon the amount of money the league has at its disposal and the needs of the individual. But whether this help is much or little the having the certificate of membership and belonging to the league will give information that will teach one to protect himself and his family from disease. This means less sickness, consequently less loss of time from work, therefore more money, more comforts, and more happiness for all concerned.

The vice-presidents and organizers should see that the four standing committees required by the by-laws of the church leagues are promptly appointed and that they understand their duties.

As the work of each church league will at first consist largely of educating its members as to the cause of tuberculosis and the way to live to keep from getting it, the committees, and especially the ones having charge of “sick,” “sanitation;” and “information” should be especially active. They should learn all that is possible about their respective subjects so that they can teach the other members.

In joining the church league one also becomes a member of the State Colored Antituberculosis League. Members of the state league and church branch leagues wear a button showing their connection with the leagues.

Membership.—Membership in the church leagues should not be confined to the members of the church organizing the league. As a rule it is better that the members of each church join their own church league, but if for any reason their church has no league there should be no objection to their joining the league of some other church. Those who are not members of any church should also be allowed to join the league.

Details of the work of a church league.—As soon as the church league is organized the president should appoint the four standing committees required by the by-laws to serve for one year, viz: “Finance,” “Information,” “Sick,” and “Sanitation.” The details of the work to be done may then be considered. One of the first of these is to ascertain how many of the members have or are suspected of having tuberculosis. This duty devolves upon the committee on the sick, which should get from the secretary a list of the members, giving the name and address of each. This list should be gone over and every member carefully considered. It is probable that the greater number of the members are personally known to the committee, and thus it can be told at once whether they are sick or well.

The committee is not expected to decide whether these members have tuberculosis. Their duty is to make out the list of the sick and ailing. The physician will decide the nature of the sickness.

It is desirable to find cases of consumption in the earliest stages, for these may be cured, and if all members who are not strong and healthy are examined by the physician it is possible that cases of early consumption will be found.

Each ailing member should be visited by some of the committee and more careful inquiry made as to the nature of the trouble and the member urged to go to a physician or a dispensary for examination. This is especially true if the member has been losing flesh, or has had a cough for some time, or has throat trouble, or is sickly and frail. If upon examination the physician finds that the member has consumption, the patient should get a certificate stating that fact. The physician will also tell the patient what treatment is necessary.

The certificate will be presented to the committee by the patient, and the committee will make more careful inquiry into the condition of the patient, the treatment considered necessary by the physician, the patient’s means, the number of people he has depending upon him, etc., so that the facts may be presented to the executive board in accordance with the requirements of Article VII of the by-laws.

The list of the sick should be most carefully guarded and no one allowed to see it but the officers of the league and the health officers. This knowledge should be regarded as a sacred confidence that should not be divulged except to the persons mentioned above, as many might object to having it known that they have tuberculosis.

Under no circumstances should the list be allowed to fall into the hands of “patent medicine” concerns which might urge their nostrums on the patients, much to their annoyance and also to their detriment, if they become induced to take the “patent medicines.”

The measures necessary for the treatment of a patient who has tuberculosis must be determined by the physician, but it is the duty of the executive board to decide how much and what kind of help the league can give the patient in carrying out this treatment.

It is not proposed to discuss here the question of treatment in a sanatorium which is the ideal way of handling all cases of tuberculosis, for in a sanatorium the sick cease to be a menace to the community and can be under supervision and treatment all the time. Unfortunately, at present sanatoria are not available for the great mass of the people; and even if they were, many would be unable to go to them.

There is a class of patients who have to depend upon their daily labor for the support of themselves and their families. If they stop work, their support is cut off. For such as these treatment in a sanatorium is out of the question, and any treatment they can get must be given in their homes and frequently while they are working. To this class belong the great majority of the negroes; therefore the work of the church leagues must be directed to such help as can be given under these circumstances. What is necessary in each case will depend upon the condition of the patient, the stage of the disease, and the financial circumstances of the individual.

For the purposes of the league, consumptives may be divided into three classes:

First. The patients who are in the earlier stages of the disease and are able to go about their work while taking treatment.

Second. Cases in which it is necessary to stop work and remain quiet if they are to get well.

Third. Cases in which the disease has progressed so far that it is hopeless to attempt a cure, but for which much can be done to make the patients comfortable and prevent them from scattering the germs of the disease.

As stated above, what is necessary in each case will depend upon the condition of the patient and his surroundings. Much also depends upon the means the league has at its disposal to help the individual. Most church leagues find that they have very little money; therefore the help given must be limited. However, there are certain things that can be done even by the poorest leagues.

Information as to the way in which the disease is spread; the means to prevent it; what is necessary to get well if one has it, etc., is all printed on the certificate. When the member gets the certificate and has learned all that is printed on it, the first step has been taken in the education of the individual in regard to tuberculosis, so it should be the aim of the officers of the leagues to get the certificates in the hands of the members.

The officers of the league can see that the instructions on the certificate are understood and carried out. Many individuals are careless and must be constantly watched to see that they do not neglect important precautions. Probably the most difficult thing the league will have to do will be to induce its members to keep their windows open and let fresh air and sunlight into their rooms.

The officers and committees of the league should urge the members to keep the windows of their rooms open, especially at night, and to avoid overcrowding their sleeping rooms. Whenever a dark room or closed window which should be open is found, the danger should be pointed out, and the member urged to correct it.

The practice of sleeping with the head and face covered is so deeply rooted in the negro race that it seems almost hopeless to attempt to eradicate it in the present generation. It is a most pernicious habit. The dangers of the practice should be pointed out, and the members urged to abandon it. Children should not be allowed to contract the habit.

The careless spitting of consumptives in their homes is a practice dangerous to others. The careless at times spit on the floor, the walls, the hearth of the open fire, or on the stove if one is used. The sputum of the consumptive dries and is carried into the air as dust. This is drawn into the lungs when one breathes. The dangers of this should be emphasized, and the proper way to dispose of sputum shown. The consumptive should catch all of his sputum and burn it. There are cheap cups made of paper that can be had at small cost, and these should be used to spit in, and when they are full they should be burned. The better cups have covers to them, so that the flies can not get at the sputum. While consumption is a dangerous disease, the careful consumptive is not dangerous to live with. The careless consumptive, however, is dangerous to live with and a menace to those around him.

The minister and the officers of the leagues should consult frequently with the health officer of their community. Working together they can accomplish much more than by working alone.

The minister and officers of the league can teach their people to be careful and not produce unsanitary conditions, and the health officer can remedy conditions that the people can not correct. The leagues should urge the members to beautify their homes, no matter how humble they may be. If the home is made more attractive, interest in it will grow, and an improvement in the sanitary conditions will naturally follow. Teach the members to have grass and flowers in their yards. See that there is no dirt, trash, or litter scattered about; that the loose paling of the fence is nailed on, and the sagging gate has a new hinge. Pull the dirty rags from the broken window pane and burn them. Let them put their bed-clothing out in the sun occasionally, and sweep the dust from under the bed and furniture. Open the window and door and let air and sunlight into the rooms. All of these things tend to improve the sanitary conditions, which means health and happiness.

Members should be taught that remedies advertised as cures for consumption are not to be relied upon, and that the only known way to get well is to live in the open air as much as possible, both day and night, and to eat nourishing food at regular intervals. The consumptive when possible should go to a physician or a dispensary and follow exactly the instructions given.