The principles of "open-air" treatment of phthisis and of sanatorium construction / by Arthur Ransome.

Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The principles of "open-air" treatment of phthisis and of sanatorium construction / by Arthur Ransome. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    FACTORS OF SANATORIUM TREATMENT Most of these conditions point to the need of special institutions for the treatment, and will be considered in their turn. Throughout this essay it is assumed that tuber- culosis is both preventable and curable. It would be easy to adduce proofs of this statement, but it is surely needless at the present day to elaborate any arguments on these points. I have, therefore, left them untouched. 2. The Need for Sanatoria.—The chief reasons for the establishment of more sanatoria for tubercular cases are (a) the infective character of the excreta, especially of active tuberculous sputum, (6) the inade- quate nature of the provision now made for its treat- ment. (a) It is now universally acknowledged that al- though, with proper precautions, there is no danger from personal intercourse with tubercular patients, the chief means of spreading the disease is fine atmo- spheric dust containing the active virulent specific bacillus. It is certain (i) that the organism, in suit- able surroundings, retains its virulence for long periods of time; (2) that, if it gains an entrance into the bodies of beings who are or who have become sus- ceptible, whether men or lower animals, it starts the disease, and (3) that this occurrence is most likely to take place in the overcrowded dirty and dark dwellings of the poor ; in the ill-ventilated badly lighted habitations of all classes of society ; and in most of the crowded places of public assembly. It is important therefore for their own sakes, for their education in hygiene, and for the safety of the general public, that as many as possible of these persons should be treated in sanatoria.
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