French Children's Health Institutions


Figure 1.--This is a scene at the Préventorium Calmette, we think in the 1920s. The staff at Préventoria developed all kinds of outdoor activities to expose the children to fresh air and sunshine.

France like Germany was a leader in public health. The thriving capitalist driven economies of both countrues gave public officials the tax revenue to address a host of problems including public health that government had not previously been able to address. While the sanatorium to treat tuberculosis was an innovation developed in Germany, France introduced other institutions orienrd 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. Many French city dwealers had grown up in the country and come to Paris and other cities for jobs. Thus may had parentys anf other relatives still living in rural areas. Sometimes these stays could be for extended periods. It seems that in many of the sanatoria, the concern was primarily clinical. The children involved now report tht there was little affection and separtion from thei parents was very painful. Sometimes if the family was well off, a parent might accompany a child placed in one of the sanatoria. This subject was treated in the classic French film, 'Le Souffle Au Coeur' ('Mummer of the Heart').

Public Health

France like Germany was a leader in public health. The thriving capitalist driven economies of both countrues gave public officials the tax revenue to address a host of problems including public health that government had not previously been able to address. The same pricess was at work in other European countriues and North America.

French Environment

France is a large country with a varied climate and topography offering a variety of enviroments that can be used for health treatments. This was particulrly important in the 19th and early-20 centuries before the development of many important bmodern medicines. France has a long coastline, including the warm Mediterranean coast in the south as well as an Atlantic coast and North Sea coat in the west and north. France also has three principal mountains such Massif in central France, the Pyrénées in southern border with Spain, and the Alps in the east where the highest mountain in Europe are found. As aesult a variety of envirmonents were available for sanatiria anhd other treatmnent centers.

French National Programs

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.

Clothing

French and Belgian children in the 20th century, especially after World War I, were dressed in way to be practical, easy to wash, and with a beautifull juvenile touch. It should be noted that French mothers until after World War II for the most part did not have modern conveniences like washing machines. The urban working class and peole in rural areas oiften did not even have indoor pluming making washing clothes a major concern of mist mothers. Boys thus commonly wore short pants outfits. Younger boys commonly woire romper suits. Thus these were the clothes we see at the French health institutions for children. Many had unifoirms for the children. The younger childre might spend part of the day without any clothing. A French reader writes, "Regarding the clothing of children from Belgium, France, Switzerland, and some other European countries, the puritanism prevalebt in America was not common. In France, no one gave any attention seeing a naked litthe child, specialy the boys. It was common to see a toddler arounfd his home without his little pants. The children at Preventorium might spend several hours without clothing playing in thefresh air and sunshine. That might shock Americans, but not here. This was part of a generally more relaxed atititude toward sex that was notable in art and public entertainment. Many Amnerican servicemen during World war I were shocked to see the more relaxed attitude when the American Expeditionsl Force began arriving."

French Families

France in the earky-20th century was still largely rural. Many French parents in Paris and other cities commonly sent their children to live with relatives in what was considered healthy country environments. TYhis was both foir health reasons and toibget ton know the grandparents ahbd ither relatives. Many French city dwealers had grown up in the country and come to the cities seeking good paying jobs. Thus many city dwealers had parents anf other relatives still living in rural areas. Sometimes these stays could be for extended periods, usually during the summer. It seems that in many of the sanatoria, the concern was primarily clinical. The children involved now report that there was little affection and separtion from their parents was very painful. Sometimes if the family was well off, a parent might accompany a child placed in one of the sanatoria. This subject was treated in the classic French film, 'Le Souffle Au Coeur' ('Mummer of the Heart').

Sources

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








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Created: 12:28 PM 4/14/2012
Last update: 5:41 AM 4/15/2012