Open-air treatment

A Handbook of the Open Air Treatment Wellcome L0026793

Open-air treatment refers to a medical and social care practice that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily aimed at treating tuberculosis before the advent of antibiotics. This treatment method is based on the belief that exposure to fresh air, sunlight, and a nutritious diet can significantly improve a patient's health. Although it was initially developed for tuberculosis, open-air treatment was later applied to other conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, and various non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections. The practice played a crucial role in the establishment of sanatoriums across Europe and North America.

History

The concept of open-air treatment dates back to the 1850s but gained prominence in the late 19th century when Dr. Hermann Brehmer established the first sanatorium in Görbersdorf (now Sokołowsko, Poland) in 1859. Brehmer believed that tuberculosis was a curable disease if treated early with fresh air, good nutrition, and rest. This idea was revolutionary at a time when the disease was rampant and considered almost always fatal.

Following Brehmer's success, similar institutions began to appear across Europe and the United States. The most famous among these was the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium founded by Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau in Saranac Lake, New York, in 1885. Trudeau, who had tuberculosis himself, was a firm believer in the open-air treatment and dedicated his life to researching and treating the disease.

Principles

The core principles of open-air treatment include:

• Exposure to Fresh Air: Patients were encouraged to spend as much time as possible outdoors, breathing fresh air. Sanatoriums were often built in locations with clean air, away from industrial areas.
• Sunlight: Sunbathing was considered therapeutic, based on the belief that sunlight could kill tuberculosis bacteria.
• Rest: A significant component of the treatment was rest, which was thought to conserve the body's energy for fighting the infection.
• Nutrition: A high-calorie diet was prescribed to combat the weight loss associated with tuberculosis.

Decline

The discovery of the tuberculosis bacterium by Robert Koch in 1882 and the subsequent development of the BCG vaccine and effective antibiotic treatments led to a gradual decline in the need for open-air treatment and sanatoriums. By the mid-20th century, with the widespread availability of antibiotics, the practice had become largely obsolete.

Legacy

Despite its decline, the principles of open-air treatment have left a lasting legacy in the approach to treating respiratory diseases. The emphasis on fresh air and a healthy environment has influenced modern public health policies and the design of medical facilities. Additionally, the concept has seen a resurgence in the form of wellness tourism and spa treatments that emphasize the benefits of nature and outdoor environments for physical and mental health.

See Also

• Tuberculosis treatment
• History of tuberculosis
• Sanatorium
• Wellness tourism