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72
The question as to the provision of Sanatorium treatment
of early cases of phthisis was discussed on several
occasions by the Public Health Committee. It was
strongly felt that whatever is done in this direction
should be provided for the metropolis as a whole by
some central body such as the Asylums Board, and the
Council was urged to bring pressure on the Board to
take the matter up, with the assistance of an adequate
grant from the Exchequer. Pending such action, the
Committee presented the following report:—
Sanatorium Treatment of Consumptives.
We report that, agreeably with the resolution
of the Council dated the 7th July last, we have
caused enquiries to be made respecting the provision
of sanatorium treatment for poor persons in
the Borough in the initial stages of consumption,
and the cost of maintenance of beds in approved
sanatoria.
In a memorandum by the Medical Officer of
the Local Government Board, attention is called
to many advantages of sanatorium treatment.
Patients able to work are received for treatment
for a short period, which would not usually involve
dismissal from their place of business; the improvement
experienced during even a short stay in a
sanatorium is often most remarkable. Further,
when the patient enters a sanatorium, his dwelling
is disinfected, and his relatives are temporarily
relieved from a source of anxiety; and the patient,
whilst in the sanatorium, is trained in the methods