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49
There is no doubt that, even from the short period of three months in
a sanatorium, a certain amount of benefit has resulted to many patients,
but to arrest the disease a much longer stay is generally requisite. The
habits which are learned are practised afterwards in the home and in
the workshop, and thus the benefit is sometimes extended to the whole
family. From the returns of past years it is satisfactory to be able to
record that a number of old patients, among whom are included many
indoor workers, who were treated three, four, five, six years ago or
longer, are at present apparently well and at work. These patients are
included in the returns as '* arrested early cases." It should be noted,
however, that as a rule these patients were away for much longer
periods than three months.
For the majority of cases, whatever may be the value of the
institutional treatment given, the importance of home treatment is even
more. On the early recognition of the nature of the illness will depend
much of the effectiveness of the treatment in a sanatorium; but besides,
even with insured persons, a large proportion do not apply to go away,
and are thus dependent upon the treatment given by their ordinary
medical attendant, or by the medical officers of hospitals and dispensaries.
From Table XI it will be seen that insured persons are availing
themselves of the services of the panel doctors instead of attending
hospitals, thus effecting a saving of their time and strength. It is
desirable, how ever, that patients should be able to secure the opinion of
specialists, where such is necessary, or where special treatment is required.

* The main sources of domiciliary treatment are alone recorded in the above table.
Many insured persons attended the out-patient departments of hospitals in the intervals of
treatment by the panel doctor, and in the same way many hospital patients called in
private practitioners, the dispensary physician or the Poor Law doctor at times of
emergency.
† Includes 55 arrested cases and 45 persons who were away or in institutions for the
whole or a greater part of the year, also old patients who left the district early in the
year and some who died suddenly without having had treatment.