The thirtieth of next May will be the third anniversary of the opening and dedication of the Caterham Sanitarium. Since the opening there has been considerable growth in the size of the institution and the patronage. When the institution was dedicated, it consisted of twenty bedrooms for guests and workers, five reception rooms, including the dining-room, kitchen, scullery, store-rooms, and bath-rooms. During the first year seven additional bedrooms were acquired, also a storeroom and a laboratory. During the second year fourteen bedrooms and several other rooms were added, and during the past year another villa of seven rooms. An adjoining villa, forming an integral part of the institution, was purchased by some friends of the institution soon after the dedication, and the sanitarium has been able to advance more than half the cost already. The other two villas have been rented at £65 ($325) per annum. We have an option to purchase these villas at any time at a reasonable price, should we decide to do so.
THE CATERHAM SANITARIUM
From this brief description it will be seen that the Caterham Sanitarium at the present time consists of thirty-five bedrooms for patients and twelve bedrooms for nurses. During the past year the institution has enjoyed a large patronage, numbering at various times from twenty-five to fifty guests. We really do not have accommodations for fifty, but that maximum was reached at Easter time, and some of the nurses gave up their bedrooms for the benefit of the guests, and others slept in the bathrooms.
Our patronage has included not only patients from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, but also some from the States, South Africa, India, Australia, and the continent of Europe. Many of the patients have remained but a short time, others have stopped six months, a few as long as a year, and several for even a longer period. These latter have been chronic cases that required a long physical training in order to produce a permanent improvement of the health.
At the present time our staff numbers twenty, which is made up as follows: two classes for nurses, with six and eight members respectively, two graduate nurses, physician, matron, and two additional workers who are giving their whole time. Besides these we have the help of several charwomen more or less, as required. Our senior nurses’ class will be graduated next October. It numbers six, three ladies and three gentlemen. We have no junior class this year, as we are still in the developmental stage of the institution. Our freshmen class numbers eight, seven ladies and one gentleman. We expect to take in another class of six or eight in July. Thus far we have secured the majority of our nurses from the Missionary Training College of London, consequently most of our nurses have had the benefit of the missionary training for one year at least. This we find a great advantage, and as far as possible we endeavor to secure all our candidates from the college.
The routine of our home life at the sanitarium is very simple. The workers rise at six, attend worship at twenty minutes before seven, and start duty promptly at seven. The patients rise at half-past seven, come down to worship in the drawing-room at eight, breakfast at a quarter past eight, after which they have a light gymnastic drill in the gymnasium; then the ladies go to their treatment in the bath-rooms. The Caterham Sanitarium possesses only one suite of bath-rooms, which is utilized by the lady patients in the morning until two o’clock, and by the gentlemen in the afternoon and evening from three to eight. This arrangement works very well, everything considered. The dinner is served at a quarter of two, and supper, consisting chiefly of fruit and bread preparations, at half-past six; after supper there is a dumb-bell drill in the gymnasium.
Sabbath morning at eleven we have a Sabbath-school in the gymnasium, to which all are invited, and it is well attended. Sunday evening at seven there is worship in the gymnasium for the benefit of patients and workers. At eight o’clock there is a Bible study for the workers. Both these services are18conducted by Brother W. T. Bartlett, editor of Present Truth, who comes from London for this purpose. On Monday and Thursday evenings lectures on health and hygiene are given in the gymnasium by the resident physician. These are also well attended, and many questions are asked by the guests, indicating a desire to learn about the body and its care. On Friday evening there is a Testimony study for the workers and members of the family. Besides the Sabbath-school, we have two other organizations at the Caterham Sanitarium,—the missionary society, which meets monthly, and a Good Health League, which also holds monthly meetings. Handbills are circulated throughout the town announcing the meetings, and there is usually a large attendance, the gymnasium being quite full. Some of the leading citizens have taken an interest in these services, and have commended the educational work being carried on.
It might be of interest to some of the readers of the REVIEW to know that the Caterham Sanitarium is a freehold property occupying about two acres, but adjoining the garden behind is a beautiful hillside of meadowland of twenty-two acres. This we have on a lease, which has still about twelve years to run, and we find it a great advantage, since it gives ample opportunity for walking exercises for the patients. In this meadow we have a good lawn-tennis court. That, with croquet, are all the outdoor amusements that are provided by the institution. In the vicinity of the sanitarium are many delightful roads, lanes, and cross-country paths that furnish charming walks. Since part of the treatment consists of exercise, those guests who are able to get outdoors, go for walks daily.
Caterham is located in Surrey, one of the most beautiful of the hill counties of England. It is seventeen miles due south of Westminster Bridge, London, and, consequently, is within easy reach of the metropolis, and yet beyond its smoke and fog. The climate is comparatively mild for England, and the location an ideal one in many respects.
