The part which the desire for the welfare of others may play in influencing people is illustrated by the story of Mr. and Mrs. Henshaw.
Mr. Henshaw had been a patient in the Hudson Tuberculosis Hospital. It became necessary to close the ward in which he was staying, and preparations for his transfer to another institution were made. He, however, decided to return to his home. As he was in an advanced stage of the disease, this plan would have jeopardized the health of the family. The social worker and the doctors who had been helping Mr. Henshaw did their best to persuade him to enter the other hospital. Finally, when he refused, they threatened to invoke the aid of the law permitting the compulsory removal of tuberculous patients from their homes. Mr. Henshaw responded by falling into a tremendous fury and leaving the ward. When the social worker called at his home, he refused her admission. Both he and his wife were enraged. Those who knew Mr. and Mrs. Henshaw said that they were stubborn, impossible people.
Another social case worker then undertook to change the attitude of Mr. and Mrs. Henshaw and to induce Mr. Henshaw to enter a sanatorium.
