CHAPTEE III 



FORESTS AS SITES FOR SANATORIA 



As stated above, Ebermayer showed that forest air, like 

 that of the seas and mountains, is free from injurious gases, 

 dust, particles, and bacteria. The forest soil is hygienically 

 pure. These facts are excellent reasons for locating sanatoria 

 for tuberculous patients and convalescent homes in forest 

 districts (Fig. 1). Such patients require open-air treat- 

 ment, which necessitates protection against cold or severe 

 wind. Wind raises dust, which increases cough and dyspnoea 

 if the lungs are affected (1). The progress of patients is 

 often best in mountain resorts in winter, when the snow 

 lying on the ground prevents dust. Even when forests are 

 not accessible, the occurrence of belts of trees around the 

 grounds of sanatoria are useful for protection against wind. 

 Walks in a wooded country are most agreeable, and the 

 psychic effect of beautiful woodland scenery is beneficial 

 in many cases of illness. As hay fever is due to a peculiar 

 poison in the pollen of certain grasses and closely allied 

 plants, places where these plants are rare or absent, like 

 pine forests and heaths, may be resorted to with advantage 

 by patients suffering from this distressing malady (2). 



It has been the universal belief, from ancient times till 

 now, that forests of conifers exercise a beneficial and curative 

 effect on consumptive patients. The physicians of Kome, 

 in the time of the Caesars, sent patients with ulcerated 

 lungs to the pine forests of Libya. Pliny (3), in a state- 

 ment that sounds quite modern, remarks : " Forests, especially 



