This film deals with the problems of pulmonary tuberculosis among Hispanic-Americans. In one family, the mother dies of tuberculosis. A young adult daughter becomes ill with fatigue and coughing. Her father urges her to see a doctor, but she denies she is ill, claiming she has just been working too hard. Eventually, she can no longer deny her illness and asks her parish priest to pray for her. The priest strongly advises her to see a physician, accept treatment, and not use patent medicines. The physician takes her medical history and takes a chest X-ray, which indicates pulmonary tuberculosis. The doctor advocates chest X-rays for all young people. The girl's father bemoans the fact that his people are wary of doctors and although there are public health workers trying to teach them about tuberculosis, the community is not paying attention. The physician reviews the girl's X-ray with her father and explains the mode of transmission of tuberculosis with the aid of a picture book. He also explains why sanitorium care is necessary and free. The father teaches a friend what he has learned about tuberculosis prevention. The daughter leaves the sanitorium cured and marries her sweetheart. Shots include: Hispanics working in fields and an outdoor market, dancing in native costumes, at home, in church; a medical history form; X-ray equipment.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
019 min.
Color:
Black and white
Sound:
Sound
Cast:
Rosario de la Vega, R.C. Ortega, F.L. Tafolla, Frederick J. Mann, R. TrevinĚo, Jr.
Credits:
Director, Edgar G. Ulmer ; director of photography, J. Burgi Contner ; sound, Dean Cole ; film editor, Marc S. Asch ; medical advisor, H.E. Kleinschmidt.
Provenance:
Received: Apr. 25, 1955 as a donation from the Veterans Administration.