In the early-20th century, Europe and the U.S. saw the rise of “open air” schools intended to create healthy environments to combat tuberculosis using the principles of sanatoria. Sometimes purpose-built, and sometimes converted spaces, open air schools provided fresh air and extra nutrition for at-risk youth.
In the May 1917 issue of The Modern City, John H. Ferguson wrote about Richmond’s 16 open air schools: “Each school has a capacity of 20 children; and each one is always crowded, with a long waiting list. The children are selected from the entire public school system of the city by the school physician…Few of these children have tuberculosis even in its non-communicative forms, but they are all below par, physically, just in the right receptive condition to be fertile soil for the development of the disease.”
A Richmond Times-Dispatch notice of March 2, 1915 (p. 7) noted fundraising activities of "prominent society women" in support of the open-air schools. These women served as tearoom hostesses in the palm garden of the Jefferson Hotel. Indoor golf was a popular activity for which "two handsome silver cups" were to be awarded at the conclusion of the season.
French bacteriologists Albert Calmette (1863–1933) and Camille Guérin (1872–1961) finalized the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for tuberculosis in 1921. The vaccine remains the only tuberculosis vaccine in use today. While not perfect, it is one of the most widely used vaccines and reaches more than 80 percent of all children in countries where the disease is common.
The BCG vaccine was a major weapon in public health efforts to fight tuberculosis—an ongoing battle dramatized by Richmond children in this 1921 play. In this panoramic photograph, a "Modern Health Crusader" brandishes a sword shaped like the double-barred cross that was the emblem of the crusade. The crusader carries a "Modern Health Crusader" shield and fights "Tuberculosis" who is dressed all in black.
The Modern Health Crusaders campaign was devised by Charles De Forest of the National Tuberculosis Association.
People can be exposed to tuberculosis bacteria and become infected. Some who are infected go on to develop active TB disease; those who do not are said to have latent infection.
Latent infection can be found through a skin test or a blood test; however, a chest x-ray and laboratory testing of a mucus sample are needed to determine if someone has active TB disease.
In 1946, the Richmond Health Department worked with medical and civic organizations to launch the city’s first chest x-ray campaign.
"I've Had My Chest X-Ray" button with red double-bar cross that was the emblem of the National Tuberculosis Association anti-TB crusade.
People can be exposed to tuberculosis bacteria and become infected. Some who are infected go on to develop active TB disease; those who do not are said to have latent infection.
Latent infection can be found through a skin test or a blood test; however, a chest x-ray and laboratory testing of a mucus sample are needed to determine if someone has active TB disease.
In 1946, the Richmond Health Department worked with medical and civic organizations to launch the city’s first chest x-ray campaign.
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