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65
those who will best profit by a further stay in the long.
treatment beds.
86a. The Economy of Sanatorium Treatment. The provision
of sanatorium treatment for consumptives has the following
ends in view :—
1. Temporary isolation of the patients and relief from
fatiguing duties of the wives, producing diminished
infection and increased efficiency on the part of the
mother.
2. Education of the patient in how to carry out open.air
treatment, so as to avoid being a source of infection to
his family ; this again produces a great diminution of
infection in the future.
3. Diminution of suffering, and increased enjoyment of
life.
4. Restoration to health and to a condition of wage.
earning, whether temporary or permanent.
All these objects are of great importance, and several of them
can be considered economical from a money point of view.
With the exception of the last, however, it is impossible to
form even an approximate estimate of the financial economy
attending on treatment; but as regards the effect of sanatorium
treatment in restoring patients to such a degree of health that
they are able to resume work and continue earning wages, it is
possible to form some rough estimate of the amount of money
saved to the rates. It is not here suggested that the benefits
from sanatorium treatment, which cannot be expressed in
terms of money, are of no importance ; far from it. But there
is obvious justification for Sanitary Authorities providing such
sanatorium treatment if it can be shown to be of benefit from
this point of view.