French Children's Health Institutions: National Program


Figure 1.--This is a scene at the Preventorium de Valloires in 1935. Notice all the boys are wearing the classic balloon romper. These rompers were worn every day, including Sunday when the children dressed up. It was considered a healthy, practical garment for boys.

While the sanatorium to treat tuberculosis was an innovation developed in Germany, France introduced other institutions oriented sopecifically for child welfare. France set up sanatoria as well as preventoria for treating children. The first sanatorium established in was along the coast at Beck to expose patients to sea air. It was not just for tuberculosis (1870). French doctors noted the work on tuberculosis in Germany and the success of sanatoiria in Switzerlanbd and America. A Medical Congregation in Paris determined that fresh air and sunshine could benefit patients who had contracted tuberculosis (1893). As a result, sanatoria also began to open in France. One source estimates that an estimated 250 treament centers were opened in France (1893-1950). French schools had home keeping classes for schools. The girls were taught that children should be dressed to enjoy the maximum of fresh air and sunshine as long as they did not catch cold. Children were often sent to sanatoria and a unique medical facility established in France for children--the preventoria. These were for children whoi had not yet contracted tuberculosis or other infectous diseases. Many parents also sent children to live with relatives in what was considered healthy country environments. Another facility created in France was the aerium center for children that were not sick, but would benefit from fresh air and sunshine.

Sanatoria

While the sanatorium to treat infectious tuberculosis was an innovation developed in Germany, sanatoria were also founded in France. France introduced other institutions oriented sopecifically for child welfare. France set up sanatoria as well as preventoria for treating children. The first sanatorium established in was along the coast at Beck to expose patients to sea air. It was not just for tuberculosis (1870). French doctors noted the work on tuberculosis in Germany and the success of sanatoiria in Switzerland and America. The First International Congress on Tuberculosis was held in Paris (1893). The delegates endorsed the German approach of fresh air and sunshine and could it could benefit patients who had contracted tuberculosis. The Second Congress was held in Berlin where additional data was presenting confirming the results being achied using the German methods. As a result, French authorities and private individuals began opening sanatoria in France. One source estimates that an estimated 250 treament centers were opened in France (1893-1950). Sites were selected in pollution free areas in a variety of locations (mountains, sunny plateaus or sea side spoots). All emphaszed exposure to fresh air and sunshine. The designsemphazized Heliotrope architecture. We note both public and private sanatoria. Sometimes private facilities accepted poor patients whose care was covered by the fees paid by paying patients. Municipalities open some sanatoria. The Paris Muncipal Council ws one of the most prominent. They receuved support from the Assistance Publique. The private sanatoria took in children from families that could pay the fees. The French government also opened two sanatoria for poor children at Ormesson/Seine et Mrne (130 beds) and Villiers-sur Marne/Do (230 beds). Both were at reltively low elevations. [Walters, p. 125.] French schools had home keeping classes for the girls. They were taught that children should be dressed to enjoy the maximum of fresh air and sunshine as long as they did not catch cold. The French sanatoria disapeared, as in other countries, with the advent of antibiotics (1950s).

Preventoria

French children were often sent to sanatoria and a unique medical facility--the preventoria. These were for children who were sickly, but had not contracted tuberculosis or other infectous diseases. The preventorium took children who were undersized and who come from homes where there was tuberculosis. They cared for the children in such a way so as to prevent them from contracting the disease. The preventoria were institutions designed to rescue of anemic, under-nourished children in the families of the tuberculous poor. Many children who were stunted or weak were sent here. French doctors after World War I (1918) rarely placed children in sanatoria unless they had infectous diseases. Rather they perscribed Preventorium centers or in an aeriumcenter with medical healthcare. These were government faciities open to children of all economic levels. The preventoria was primarily a French instituion, but we notice a small number opened in mant other countries as well. Just like santoria, the preventiria was affected by the discovery of antibiotics which coukd treat tuburculosis much more effectivly than lengthy and expensive instituionozation. The sanatoria in France mostly closed during the 1950s. Many Preventoria, however, have continued to operate. Often the name was change as these facilities developed varied specialised treatmnt regimes. A French reader describes facilities including: Centre hélio-marin, Centre de repos aéré ect.

Aerium Centers

Another public facility created in France was the aerium center. An aerium is an 'établissement de cure qui permet aux convalescents de respirer le bon air'. This means health facilities designed to expose convalescents to fresh air. The facilities for children were for children, including quite young children, tht were not sick, but would benefit from fresh air and sunshine. Specific treament regimes wee developed to expose children to fresh air and sunshine. Some of the children wee very young, including pre-school chilkdren of nursery school age.

Sources

Walters, Frederick Rufenacht. Sanatoria for consumptives: a critical and detailed description, together ....








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Created: 4:31 AM 4/15/2012
Last update: 4:31 AM 4/15/2012