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19
COPY OF A REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE
ON THE SANATORIUM TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION.
To the Chairman and Members oj the Public Health Committee.
Gentlemen,
In accordance with your instructions at the last meeting of the Public
Health Committee, I beg to submit my report on the Sanatorium treatment of
Consumptives.
In attempting to answer the question whether the sanatorium treatment of
consumptives has justified the expectations of its earlier advocates, we must not
confuse the expectations of the expert with those of the " man in the street.''
Some members of the public already hint that popular expectation has not been
realised ; but to expect the impossible is to ensure disappointment. It is always
well to set a high standard, and to refuse to be satisfied until this is attained ; but
the standard must not be an impossible ideal. Nevertheless, we should be satisfied
with nothing short of what has been shown to be possible under the most favourable
conditions. What may reasonably be expected from sanatorium treatment of
consumption. Every case in whatever stage of the disease cannot be cured in three
months, though this is, probably, what the public has come to believe, was anticipated.
Some cases in the earliest stages may become cured in less than three months.
Many early cases can be put well on the way to complete recovery in three months,
and even more advanced cases may in this time be started in a direction which
will lead to recovery if persistently followed for some months after leaving the
sanatorium. Unfortunately, few cases enter the sanatorium whilst their disease
is in such an early stage, that cure is to be anticipated in three months.
Of the early cases who enter the sanatorium in such a condition that cure may
be expected, if treatment is persisted in, some are unable to remain for the required
time, due to pecuniary reasons. These reasons must be taken into consideration
if complete success is to be hoped for in the future. The patient perhaps, is obliged
to return to work, in crder to suppoit his family. Unless he returns to work,
possibly his place will be filled, and his prospects ruined. In such cases, much,
if not all the good which was derived from the treatment, may be lost.
It is just as well that we should realise that the " three months' cure " is only
possible in the earliest cases. It requires great patience from the consumptive
if he is to get well. He may get worse rapidly, he can only get well slowly. The
patient who is encouraged to believe that if he goes to a sanatorium for a few weeks
he will get well, is discouraged, if at the end of the stated time he is still uncured.