692 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION I. 



3.— THE SANATOKIUM TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION 

 FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH POINT OF VIEW. 



By A. H. GAULT, M.D. 



There may be differences of opinion as to the exact value of the 

 sanatorium treatment of consumption, but there can be no question 

 as to its being the most successful form of treatment yet adopted. 



The subject should be of special interest to this Section, for this 

 form of treatment may be looked on as the apotheosis of the hygienic 

 life. The method of treatment is simply the adoption of the most 

 healthy life possible in the most healthy locality available, and its 

 results form one of the grandest triumphs of sanitary science. It 

 would weary you were I to describe in detail the requirements of a 

 sanatorium, for I must remind you that though they may be summed 

 up in three words — air, food, rest — yet in practice they are difficult 

 of attainment, and to ensure success the principles must be carried out 

 with scrupulous exactitude. 



I wish to point out that a sanatorium simply aims at a perfectly 

 healthy life, and it should be the endeavor of everyone who wishes to 

 ensure good health to approximate to it. 



Of first importance is — 



Fresh Air. — But the words have acquired a new meaning. To 

 constitute proper ventilation it is not sufficient that each individual 

 should have 3,000 cubic feet of air per hour, but it means that the air 

 indoors should be of exactly the same quality as that outside. It is 

 not sufficient that windows be open freely, for on a still day the air in 

 a room soon becomes contaminated unless it is in constant motion. 

 That draughts are a source of danger is a firmly rooted conviction in 

 the mind of the majority of people, and it will take a generation to get 

 rid of it. Sanatorium treatment has proved without a doubt that 

 draughts are not only harmless, but beneficial, so long as the body is 

 sufficiently clothed. It would be impossible under modern social 

 conditions for us always to breathe fresh air, but it must be our con- 

 tinual aim to do so. 



The second item is — 



Good Food. — There is a disposition to accept Professor Crittenden's 

 conclusions, that the majority of persons eat a great deal too much, 

 and that the health of the community would be much benefited by a 

 considerable diminution in the amount of food taken. How far this is 

 true I am not prepared to say, but there is no doubt consumption is a 

 disease which leads to a great increase in expenditure, and to maintain 

 the balance it is necessary to pay attention to the income. There is 

 an idea that at a sanatorium patients are forced to eat much more than 

 they desire ; this is not true. They are encouraged to eat as much 

 as possible. The healthy life promotes good appetite and digestion,^ 

 and the amount of food consumed by erstwhile dyspeptics, and the 

 weekly increase of weight are surprising. 



