This seems to express most forcibly the sentiment of Dr. Lessne Smith of Spartanburg, S.C., and Saluda, N.C., who operates at the latter place an institution called the Infants and Children Sanitarium, about seven miles from Lake Lanier.
On a beautiful knoll overlooking the surrounding mountain country with a view of Tryon Mountain Hogback, and as far as the hotel on Jump Off Mountain in Hendersonville, N.C., the genial doctor has built up what one visitor today called “Baby Heaven,” where from May ‘till September each year since the establishment of his place in 1914 he has administered to the little ones.
Covering an area of 13 acres with 12 roomy cottages for the accommodation of children and their mothers, Dr. Smith has one of the most complete and practical hospitals for children in the entire South, having in addition to the above, a completely and modernly equipped diet kitchen there the food of all patients is prepared under the supervision of five graduate dieticians.
Here a mother who wishes to stay with her child can do so, under conditions beneficial to both, at a cost of less than hiring a special nurse.
The staff consists of in attrition to Dr. Smith, the following: Dr. Sam Ravenell, Dr. Hines and Dr. Wilson Ball, the five dieticians and eight nurses.
There are accommodations for 55 children, each of whom on entering is thoroughly examined and a card index record kept on the case. According to Dr. Smith, very little medicine is administered, the ailments being cured or eliminated by proper feeding.
In cases where regulation of diet will not accomplish results, the genial doctor has modern equipment to use, including the Alpine Lamp treatment for Ricketts and skin diseases, and a well-fitted laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Ball.
For the convenience of the mothers, there is a large dining hall, in which as many as 100 meals have been served to the parents of children under treatment at one time.
Part of the treatment consists of sun baths, which the babies in a light crib designed by Dr. Smith in which the child can sleep, stand, walk or play without coming into contact with the ground or being subjected to drafts.
The Southern Pediatric Seminary, which is held at D. Smith’s place [each] year had an attendance of over 50 physicians and surgeons during the meeting from August 3rd to 15th inclusive, and the clinics were [led by?] learned teachers in this country. Among those attending were two doctors from Texas.
All the milk and other food for the babies is kept clean, sweet and sanitary by electric refrigeration, and all nursing bottles, cups, spoons and other paraphernalia is thoroughly sterilized by boiling after use.
Dr Smith also has charge of the Spartanburg Baby Hospital at Saluda, where the children of poor parents are reached, and in my humble opinion no man I have vet met is better suited to the task, as he has the love of children in his heart.
In combination with pure air, sparkling water, tender care and efficient treatment will cure baby ailments, this is the place.
Dr. Smith finds the short summer season at his present location limiting to some extent the possibilities of this great institution, so the Tryon Development Company are making quite an earnest effort to have Dr. Smith build an extension to his hospital at Lake Lanier where the winter season has long been famous for its mild temperatures.
Editor’s Note: I asked A.I. to check this hospital, and here’s what Copilot said about this type of hospital. “A place like Dr. Smith’s sanitarium sounds suspicious today because we’re used to pediatric subspecialists, pharmaceuticals with precise dosing, allergy testing, NICUs, gastroenterologists, and regulated hospitals. But in 1926, a diet and sunlight sanitarium for infants was not fringe at all. It was mainstream pediatric medicine, and in many ways safer than what a typical doctor might have done.” I also figure it was probably better than what a well-meaning parent might have done dosing an infant with an over-the-counter medicine meant for adults.
From page 3 of the Polk County News, Tryon, N.C., Sept. 2, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn94058241/1926-09-02/ed-1/seq-3/
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