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"Oh, yes," said Tessie. "Everyone did. Last winter when
it was so cold, she slept on the daybed in our kitchen. It was the only
warm place in the house."
"And she coughed a lot?" said the doctor.
Tessie nodded. "All the time. She was really sick."
"That's why you have to go away," said the doctor. "The
TB bacteria is carried in the air through coughing and sneezing."
Tessie got up. "I guess I'll have to be brave," she said
smiling.
The doctor took her hand. "You're going to be all right,"
he said.
Introduction
Throughout most of the 20th century, many Newfoundlanders like Tessie
became infected with tuberculosis. Newfoundland had the highest rate
of TB in the western world. From 1901 to 1975, 31,824 Newfoundlanders
died of the disease. In 1906 alone, there were 933 deaths. Just how
common the disease was is made clear by Edgar House:
We are appalled when we read that, during the Great
War of 1914-1918, 1295 young men of the Newfoundland Regiment gave their
lives in defence of freedom. In the same five year period, 3498 Newfoundlanders
of all ages were killed by TB, the "Constant Invader," and
thousands of others carried the scars for the rest of their days.1
The average age of people who died from TB was 33. More women became
infected with the disease, but more men died from it. In 1935, for every
10,000 people, 18.9 males and 21.2 females became infected.2 The males
who died were usually between 15 and 45 years old. Because so many parents
died, many children were brought up by others. The effect on small communities
was very serious. TB remained the leading cause of death in Newfoundland
until 1947.
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