The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26
THE OPEN-AIR CURE.
How Consumptives Are Successfully
Treated at an English Sanifarium.

| (From the Wiltshire, England, Times)
In the Local Government Journal this
week there is an article written with a
view of urging the sanitary bodies of this
country to the necessity of being in the
| front rank in the crusade against con-
sumption. The article is illustrated by a
consumption map of London, showing
| the phthisis death rates in the forty-odd
| sanitary districts, and a table is appended
| showing the relationship which the phthi-
| sis death rate bears to the density OF pop
| ulation per acre. The writer points out
| that when the Queen came to the throne
more than 400 persons per 10000 died ey-
cry year from consumption, and although
that rate has been reduced to no per I0e.-
| 600, some 1900 persons, including 800
| Londoners, die every year of the disease
| Following up the figures in regard to den
| silly and phthisiS death rate we are re-
minded that. according 10 the last census
more than three million persons were liv-
| ing in overcrowded dwellings, SO that S
| per cent OF our population live under con-
| ditions conducive to the propagation of
| infectious diseases, of which medical
science has now proved consumption to be
one. The writer contends that consump-
ton should be a notifable disease; that
every notified case should be isolated and
! as far as possible treated in rate-support-
ed hospitals; that a determined effort
sEolld be made by sanitary authorities
| 10 prevent overcrowding. and also to pro-
vide rooms for the poor at rents within
their means; that medical officers of SAM
tary districts should be asked to give lect-
ures upon the causes and prevention OF con-
sumption, and that to attain these ends
memorial should be presented to the
local government board praying that con-
sumption should be included among noti-
fable diseases, and that the powers of the
sanitary authority should be increased. so
as to give more favorable conditions I'M
der which the housing OF the poor can be
carried out.
There is a sanitarium on the Mendips
hills, England, 900 feet above sea level,
designed for the treatment OF consumption
and diseases of the lungs on the Black
Forest system This is often spoken of as
the open air cure. and it is introduced into
this country by two doctors. who were
themselves regarded as consumptiye and
were cured by the treatment. The ordi-
nary chilly mortal who muffies up his
throat when the wind blows, or hurries
home to change his clothing when he is
wet, would experience a rude shock on
visiting Nordrach upon Mendip. No mat
ter what the weather, he would find near
ly every door and window in the place
wide open and the doctors wax eloquent
over this and that beautiful draught. At
present one comes across an occasional
fire, but this is only temporary eXpzdi-
ent. Ere long the heating apparatus will
be in working order. and then the occu-
pants may bid good-hy to fires. save one.
perhaps. in the dining room. English peo-
pie dearly love the sight OF brightly gov
ing Goals on a cherries day, and in this
matter, in the one room where the patients
will meet in common, respect may ne paid
to their predictions. There is no such
thing as busting in the establishment. The
floors are waxed. so that they can be read
lily washed without causing dampness. the
furniture-designed by DR.. Thurman him
self-is constructed that there are no
lodges or holdings where dust can accu-
mulate. and it is coated with varnish. so
that the housemaid's mop can be applied
with no fear of injury. There are no car
pets save a small strip in each patients
bedroom, and the walls are devoid of pa
per. The only window hangings consist of
a small length of curtain material in the