TB sufferers — often called “lungers” — flocked here by the thousands, until a streptomycin was made available in 1949 that finally controlled the spread of the disease. Many patients remained in New Mexico after they recovered.
Why did Lungers come to NM?
But not everyone welcomed the “lungers,” for as fear of contagion grew, laws were enacted to prevent the spread of disease and indigent tuberculars were told to stay home. Ultimately, this movement helped transform a territory into a state and a railroad boom town into New Mexico’s largest city.
Who were Lungers and why did they come to New Mexico in the late 1800s and early 1900s?
Aided by the territory’s new railroad access, thousands of tuberculosis patients, often called “health seekers” or “lungers,” moved to New Mexico.
What were Lungers?
noun Informal. a person who has chronic lung disease, especially tuberculosis.
When did health seekers first start arriving in New Mexico?
1880
Health seekers began to arrive in 1880, when New Mexico became more easily accessible with the coming of the railroad, but facilities were limited until the turn of the century.
When did railroads come to New Mexico?
1878
In 1878, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company (AT&SF) became the first railroad to enter New Mexico, and by the late 1890s it controlled more than half of the track-miles in the Territory.
What are Lungers NM?
TB sufferers — often called “lungers” — flocked here by the thousands, until a streptomycin was made available in 1949 that finally controlled the spread of the disease. Many patients remained in New Mexico after they recovered.
Why were artists attracted to New Mexico starting at the end of the 19th century?
Artists flocked to New Mexico inspired by its vast natural beauty and the indigenous cultures that were so different from their own. Many of the early artists worked in a classical painting tradition that tended to romanticize native life.
Why was tuberculosis so common?
The incidence of tuberculosis grew progressively during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, displacing leprosy, peaking between the 18th and 19th century as field workers moved to the cities looking for work.
Where did the first railroad tracks enter the territory of New Mexico?
Where did the first railroad tracks enter the territory of New Mexico? They entered the territory following the Mountain Branch of the old Santa Fe Trail.
Why was New Mexico chosen as the site of two major and several smaller POW camps?
Why was NM chosen as the site of two major and several smaller POW camps? Because of its distance from the sea and vast isolation, New Mexico was an ideal location.
Is Lunger a word?
LUNGER is a valid scrabble word.
What is a sanatorium used for?
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long term illness. Most often for the care of people with Tuberculosis. The word sanitarium is often used in place of the word sanitorium but the two words differ in origin.
How did the railroads help New Mexico?
When the railroad came to New Mexico in 1879, it brought thousands of job opportunities for local people from rural villages, reservations, and larger towns. In addition to the homegrown workforce, the railroad also brought immigrant Chinese, European, and Mexican laborers to New Mexico.
Who built the railroads in New Mexico?
New Mexico Art Tells its History
The originator of the enterprise was Colonel Cyrus K. Holliday of Kansas, one of the founders of Topeka, and a long time resident of that city. Colonel Holliday drew up the charter of the company and as a member of the territorial senate of 1859 secured its passage.
What is the largest railroad company in the world?
Union Pacific of the
According to the statistics portal Statista, Union Pacific of the USA is worth a massive $75.4 billion, making it comfortably the biggest rail company in the world.
Why did New Mexico attract artists?
Many artists came to New Mexico to get away from the throngs of big-city artists, and the competition they came with. The tight-knit, liberal communities of Santa Fe, Taos, and Galisteo offered welcome support and creative exchange.
Why are artists drawn to NM?
Painters have been especially intrigued with the unique landscape of New Mexico, which offers a variety of scenery found in few other areas of the United States. New Mexico’s cities have attracted artists from many parts of the country and the world.
What attracted artists to New Mexico to form art colonies Taos and Santa Fe?
The Taos art colony was an art colony founded in Taos, New Mexico, by artists attracted by the culture of the Taos Pueblo and northern New Mexico. The history of Hispanic craftsmanship in furniture, tin work, and other mediums also played a role in creating a multicultural tradition of art in the area.
How did people get tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings. Although tuberculosis is contagious, it’s not easy to catch.
How did tuberculosis start?
TB in humans can be traced back to 9,000 years ago in Atlit Yam, a city now under the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Israel. Archeologists found TB in the remains of a mother and child buried together. The earliest written mentions of TB were in India (3,300 years ago) and China (2,300 years ago).