The Great White Plague and other epidemics: Lessons from early

Abstract

Visiting nurses today are challenged by communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS. These challenges are similar to those that confronted the first visiting nurses in this country who cared for persons with communicable diseases around the turn of this century. They fought tuber culosis, influenza, and infantile paralysis (polio) while struggling with limitations posed by social, medical, and environmental constraints. Remarkably dedicated and innovative, their efforts formed the basis for home care today, and many of their ideas are still relevant.