What is to be expected from the open-air treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis? / by R.W. Philip.

Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: What is to be expected from the open-air treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis? / by R.W. Philip. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    it has produced in my mind the uncomfortable feeling that many of the accidents which do occur in the course of the disease are the outcome of self-imposed conditions, which are the expression of unreasoning traditionalism in the care of the sick, on the part both of doctor and patient. But the negative statement, although of enormous signifi- cance, is far from exhausting the subject. The system produces positive results of most satisfactory and far-reaching character. In the first place, I wish to combat the a 'priori objection that the method is bound to make the individual uncomfortable and wretched. Far from this, my experience is that within a very short time, patients recover a degree of cheerfulness and sense of well-being to which they have been long time strangers. In a week’s time, their outlook, no less than their aspect, changes for the better to an extraordinary degree. With the change there quickly disappears an irritability which pervaded every organ and tissue. The rapidity with which the organism adapts itself to the improved physiological conditions is a most noteworthy feature, and a significant testimony in favour of the procedure. This is the more remarkable in relation to the class of patients treated in the Victoria Hospital, which admits patients on the gratuitous basis only, i.e. patients chiefly of the more ignorant and prejudiced classes, whose manner of life hitherto has been commonly in strong contrast to the open-air system. It may be both interesting and serviceable to note some of the chief indications of improvement in greater detail. (a) Colour cmd appearmice.—Within a week of the adoption of the open-air system, the colour and general appearance have altered. The extent of this is often marvellous. The look of delicacy is quickly replaced by an aspect of robustness, such,as one is accustomed to recognise developing on shipboard. This is so conspicuous that in going round the patients one may readily fix, with approximate exactness, the length of residence by the outward appearance. Similarly, it is a common ex- perience to have visitors—both professional and lay—remark that there can be little wrong Avith this or that patient, in whom the physical signs belie the suggestion. This is the more striking, because the majority of the patients have been for considerable periods prior to admission under treatment