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43
It is obviously necessary that such treatment should not pauperise
the subject of it. In the Chelsea memorandum this point is dealt
with as follows:—
"The principle involved in the isolation and treatment of consumptives
in sanatoria is the same as that involved in the isolation
and treatment of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and enteric fever. It is a
measure necessary to safeguard the public health ; and it also holds
out the prospect of a more hopeful mode of treatment for the poorer
class of consumptives than is available for them at the present time.
The general hospitals in London are averse to the reception of
consumptive patients for any but short periods; nor are such
patients, as a rule, very materially benefited by stay in wards of
general hospitals. The special hospitals for consumption in London
are too few to be able to deal with any but comparatively small
numbers of such cases; and there is often a long period of delay
after application before a case is admitted. Amongst the poor
the wards of the Workhouse Infirmaries receive a very large
number of cases; but they do not, as a rule, seek admission until
they find they are unable to continue their occupations, and are
generally in an incurably advanced stage of the disease.
"I do not advocate any compulsion to secure the isolation of
consumptives. The sufferers from this disease would quickly realise
the benefits to be derived from early resort to sanatorium treatment,
especially if, in the case of wage-earners of a family, a fund was
available for the maintenance of their families during the somewhat
prolonged period of six months, during which, on an average,
treatment is desirable.
"To sum up the benefits which would be derived from the
provision of sanatoria by the Metropolitan Asylums Board for the
treatment of consumptives:—(1) The public health would benefit
by the withdrawal from amongst the general population of active
foci of disease. A very considerable reduction in the prevalence of
consumption would ensue when the system was thoroughly established;
(2) the sanatorium treatment made available for sufferers
in the early stages of the disease would restore to health and
activity a considerable proportion, who, under present circumstances,
succumb; (3) in the event of a recurrence of the disease in a
person discharged from a sanatorium, the precautionary habits
acquired by him. whilst under treatment, would largely tend to
prevent, during his illness, the diffusion of infection which would
otherwise occur in his own home and place of occupation."
Voluntary Notification.—As I have already said before consumptives
can be instructed as to the precautions to be taken, it is