Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°59′17″N 87°43′28″W / 41.988024947336235°N 87.7243112262291°W |
| Organization | |
| Hospital type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Beds | 950 |
| Speciality | Sanatorium |
| History | |
| Closed | 1970s |
The Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium was a special hospital in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It opened in 1915. This large center helped people with tuberculosis, a serious lung disease. It was the biggest hospital of its kind in the country, with room for 950 patients.
What Was Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a disease caused by germs. It mostly affects the lungs. In the past, before modern medicines, it was very dangerous. People with TB needed a lot of rest, fresh air, and good food to get better. Sanatoriums like this one were built to provide that special care.
Where Was It Located?
The sanitarium was in the northwest part of Chicago. It covered a large area, about half a square mile. You could find it near North Pulaski Road and Bryn Mawr Avenue. The grounds were designed to be peaceful and helpful for healing. There were even areas for farming and gardening.
Buildings and Patient Care
The sanitarium had many buildings. Some were for patients who could walk around, called "ambulant" patients. Others were for those who needed more serious care.
- Open-Air Cottages: These were special small houses. They let in lots of fresh air, which was thought to help patients get better. There were separate cottages for men, women, and even children.
- Infirmary Buildings: These buildings were for patients who were very sick. They had about 300 beds.
- Other Facilities: The sanitarium also had dining halls, a power house, a laundry, and even a building for nurses.
The main goal was to give patients a good environment to recover from tuberculosis. The sanitarium closed in the 1970s as new medicines made it easier to treat TB.
