by Vickie Marcy

Created on: February 15, 2009

The tradition of Christmas Seals had a humble beginning in the late 1800's. Tuberculosis, known as the "White Plague" was the most feared disease in the world. Tuberculosis didn't discriminate, it struck every age group. It didn't matter if you were rich, poor, or a famous person; no-one was exempt from the ravages of the disease. Tuberculosis was often called the "White Plague" because as the disease progressed in its victims, they would become weak, very thin and their pallor was a chalky white. There wasn't a cure for tuberculous and it was almost certain a person struck with it would die, hence tuberculosis became known as the deadliest disease in the world.

In the late 1800's, a doctor by the name of Edward Trudeau was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which turned out to be the start of finding a cure in a round about way. He knew there was no cure for tuberculosos, so he elected to spend his last days in the peace and tranquility of the mountains of New York State, not knowing at the time that he would soon be the catylist for helping others afflicted with the disease. He spent most of his time resting, enjoying the beauty of the surrounding mountains. and with lots of sunshine, fresh air and rest, the doctor began to feel better. While the doctor recuperated from the disease that was thought to have no cure, he began to realize that tuberculosis could be cured. If patients afflicted with tuberculosis could rest, have good food and fresh air, the doctor was sure most victims could survive. He was afterall, proof that you could survive tuberculosis under the right conditions.

After recovering, Dr. Trudeau opened a small hospital for tuberculosis in the United States, the first of its kind. Tuberculosis soon became known as TB, and other hospitals for TB were established across the country, and around the world. Before long, the hospitals were called sanatoriums and they seemed to spring up overnight. For the most part, they were crude, makeshift shacks and could only care for a few patients at a time; one of the shacks was on the banks of a river in Delaware. The shack was slated to close if a large amount of money, $300, couldn't be found to keep it open. One of the doctors by the name of Joseph Wales talked to his cousin, Emily Bissel, about ways to raise the money needed to keep the small makeshift hospital open. He knew she was very active in the American Red Cross, and she was an expert at fundraising. If she could come up with a way to raise the money

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