Sanitarium Work in Great Britain
By A. B. Olsen, M. D.
THERE are three small sanitariums in the United Kingdom. The first one was opened more than three years ago in Belfast, Ireland, and is known as the Belfast Sanitarium. It is located at 343 Antrim Road, and is easy of access from all parts of the town, as the electric trams pass the door. The building consists of a double villa with eight bedrooms, drawing-room, dining-room, doctor's office, and three bath and treatment rooms. The institution is comfortably furnished and neatly fitted for the reception and treatment of patients, but the location is not very desirable on account of the noise and turmoil of the city. For some time we have been looking for a country property into which to move the Belfast Sanitarium, but up to the present time, no satisfactory location has been found. The Belfast Sanitarium is in the charge of a local board of management, with Dr. J. J. Bell as superintendent and Mrs. J. J. Bell matron. There is a staff of four or five nurses. The second sanitarium opened in Great Britain was started in Caterham, Surrey, England, three years ago next June. This is the largest of the three institutions, and has accommodations for thirty-five or forty patients. It is located on a branch of the Southeastern Railway, and is within easy reach of London, being only seventeen miles from Westminster Bridge. The staff of the Caterham Sanitarium at the present time numbers twenty, and consists of a superintendent, matron, two head nurses, six senior and seven junior nurses, and three helpers. The Leicester Sanitarium was started later in the same year. It also consists of a double house, with a suite of beautiful bath-rooms specially built for the purpose. This institution is furnished to us free of rent by Mr. J. W. Goddard, one of the leading men of the city. He is an enthusiast in health reform, and was so desirous of having a sanitarium established in the city that he made this generous offer to us for a period of ten years. There is a local board of management, of which Dr. F. C. Richards is a member; he is also the superintendent, and Mrs. Sisley-Richards, M. D., is the matron. Their staff of nurses numbers about six. Their accommodations are limited, and their situation, in the midst of a large city, is not the most desirable. The building consists of about twelve bedrooms, with several pleasant reception-rooms, and the suite of bath-rooms already mentioned. Nearly three years ago a legal corporation was organized for the purpose of holding the sanitarium property. This organization is known as the Good Health Association Limited, and the annual meeting of the association was held on Tuesday, March 13, in London. The meeting was presided over by the president of the association, W. C. Sisley, and encouraging reports were presented by the heads of the various institutions. Dr. Richards, speaking for the Leicester Sanitarium, mentioned the encouraging reports received from patients after their return home. He reviewed several interesting cases, and especially one concerning a young man who had made a very satisfactory recovery, and has since spent considerable time spreading the principles of health reform which had done so much for him. W. T. Bartlett, treasurer of the association, presented the financial report, which was quite encouraging. All three institutions have made some little gain during the year 1905,—Belfast Sanitarium about fifty-one pounds, Caterham Sanitarium about three hundred and fifty pounds, and the Leicester Sanitarium nearly fifty pounds. There is no debt on any of the institutions. After the election of the board of directors for the coming year, the meeting was adjourned.