The Scope and Limitations of Tuberculosis Hospitals and Sanatoria By T.J. JOSEPH,

Consumption as a disease entity was known and described many centuries ago. Directions for the care of consumptive patients and perscriptions for their treatment are found in various ancient medical books of Eastern as well as Western countries. The fact that tuberculosis is a communicable disease was also known long before the dis-covery of the tubercle bacillus. However, organized efforts to protect the community from infection are of comparatively recent origin. These efforts took the form of insti-tutions for the isolation and nursing of the sufferers. Such institutions in early 19th century Europe were the results of local community efforts or sponsored by religious organisations. Charity was the source of funds. Sisters of Mercy looked after and nursed the patients, as part of their religious duties and service. In these early institu-tions relief of suffering and protection of the healthy were the aims rather than the cure of the patients, because consumption was considered an incurable disease. Early Sanatoria Special institutions came to be established for the treatment of tuberculosis because of certain characteristics of the disease itself. The fact that tuberculosis is