Pioneer of “fresh air” treatment

Ever wondered who introduced “fresh air” treatment for TB into this country?

Well, Caroline Boyce ( nee Havard) who was in Craig-y-nos at the same time as me, and is helping with some of the interviews, found this newspaper obituary in Dollar museum.

“ Dr Jane Walker 1938
Open-air treatment of consumption.


“Dr Jane Walker, C.H., M.D., pioneer of the open-air treatment of tuberculosis in this country - her sanatorium at Nayland, Suffolk, of which she was Medical Superintendent, was founded in 1901- and one of the oldest women doctors practising, died yesterday at Harley Street, at the age of 79.
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“Early in her career she satisfied herself by experiment that one of the most efficacious methods of combating consumption was systematic fresh air treatment, and in 1892 she was the first to introduce the open-air treatment of the disease into England.

“A centre was opened at Downham Market, Norfolk, which was moved to Nayland as it developed. It has become a model in tubercular institutions. Sections for working-class people, for children, and for soldiers were added to it.

Recently she said that the ravages of tuberculosis had been halved in the last 30 years.
She recognised, too, that measures had to be taken not only to cure tuberculosis, but to prevent it, and throughout her medical life she had emphasised the importance of improving social conditions and the necessity of abolishing insanitary and overcrowded slum dwellings. She lent her support to every effort made to secure adequate nutrition, for those unable to afford to provide it for themselves.

...
Her publications included:” Modern Nursing of Consumption” (1904) second edition 1924.”