THE PREVENTORIUM

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1925, Page 9

THE PREVENTORIUM

TO CURE TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is still: one of the most formidable dangers to health,- and is responsible for from 8 to 10 per cent, of the total mortality in cities. It is a, fact well known to medical. science that practically" all individuals in a ■community; at (some time oi- other of their lives ,are, exposed .to the infection of this disease. Medical practitioners with extentiye knowledge of necroscopic .work are umiihar with the conditions found in the lungs; which are the result • of-healed tuberculosis, that has not had any part in the causation ofi death. 1 In other words ; (writes; T.W.S. .in the' Melbourno "Argus"), while every one receives more of ]ess: a proportion, of: the infection' of tuberculosis, :t relatively small percent^ age only develops the disease, and a still smaller percentage dies from it. It is natural that tho greater and more continuous the .amount of infection roceivod by an individual -'the; greater tho risk, and if is for- this reason that health authorities consider that all "open" cases of. phthisis, or tuberculosis of the lungs (where the germs of the disease are present in the; expectoration) should be as far as possible isolated. This ideal lias.neyer- been reached anywhere vet, and there are doubts as to its bein^ possible both on medical and ecpnomic grounds. In cities with the most advanced health;.organisation, ■ authorities have still ■■ to resort to the education of sufferers in their own homes in methods such as proper disposal of expectoration, and living and sleeping, in fresh.. air, ■°, v > Vnl.cn> while minimising the spread of infection, are at the same time conduce to recovery. „ To-day, the ,reco S - msed sheet anchora against tuberculosis are pure air, sunlight, good food, and rest. : ■■■> - ■- ■" ■ ■

._• The other principal source of infection is from cows r milk containing the {.-eras of the disease.. There are two methods of freeing milk from the infection of tuberculosis—one is by freeinjr the cows trom tubercle infection, and the other is by so ..treatincr milk as to render the tubercle bacilli which "it contains hannleas In America, where much attention Has been givon to milk supply, o»s finds that .irrcities from 90 to 98 per cent, of the milk is-pasteurised. Pasteurisation on proper lines has the advantage of protecting tho consumer from other infeotions, besides tubercle. Beside the measures already indicated, thoro is a growing conviction that child jiygiene between the npies of five io fifteen -Yearsoffers one of the most valuable aconcics for the further prevention of tuberculosis by building-up. body resistance. .Tn Ltreafc Britain and Aiiieriiia, (his method of-prevention.■'is being emphasised, and has led to "The Preventorium." Th eso institutions have been established '-by" mu-nicipalities-.-and philanthl'dpic societies The essential feature in connection with "Preventorium" work is that it is confined to children. .The institution is reserved for those who on medical examination are found to'be anaemic, under weight, and debilitated/and who, thou"h'' showing evidence of in faction of tuber-" culcsis,_ have no active 'disease. In some cities, m the,. United . States,' the Preventormm. or-.summer, camp is open for only four months during their liolidav season. In Canada and Great Britain, institutions. are open throughout the whole year., In. some cities such as Detroit, special buildings have been erected. In-Chicago .wooden-open-air wards are used. At Toronto!' a. large mansion House with iarefo a-rounds was "iven b" a- citizen _and has been admira-bfv adapted lor tins: class-"of work". At Toronto, t ioa'u es provide, amonij. otlier matters' tliitb all-adnussioiis" to tlm"'Proventbvium be iriiido tlimua.li the "-"Chest Clinic" at t-!io Sick Children's ■ Hospital - infornntiou ; as to family history, tho child's .proyimw health, and exposure to tuberculosis must be given by parents • children .suffering from .active tuberculosis, deficient-children, and children recently •exnosed to infectious disease arc not admitted, and the parent or relative must sign a printed form placing tho child in tlie caro of the Preventorium and undertaking to feriiovo it'when ready for discharge. ■ •'■ ■-..""

Whi!o in the rrovenloriuni tho education of children is continued and ■ inmates aro under the best conditions for Securing, pure: air, sunlisrht, good fnod. and jidemmlrt exercise 'mid rest, Childrcii are subjected to complete physical examination and trained in personal hygiene Dental.-and other .-physical defecits are corrected Ijy pi-oper trdntment Other important advantages o-;iiiied l'rom residence, in the Pi'everil.oriuiu are the m:n-k----cd iinprovfiineut in tho gimeriil health of children, increased uiyiwLli iind wci^lit. mid iiniirovcd-body, ri-xistain-o to iiifoiv tiort. fill of which * exhibit (lie Imii pi',.. ventivo aliph'cati.lll of n'lvdirai m-ienco Mud ..coiist-it.iilci .cJeuisive ■ factors ill the fitrrit ujjaiusl tubci'culosia,