It would appear that the St Catherine's Home was established originally as a sort of hospice for those suffering from the advance effects of the disease commonly known in the 19th century as consumption, but which we now refer to tuberculosis. Because antibiotics were unknown, the only means of controlling the spread of infection was to isolate patients in private sanitoria or hospitals limited to patients with TB—a practice that continues to this day in many countries.
The Cottage home was set up in 1879 costing £1000 funded by gifts and subscription, though patients paid 10shillings and sixpence each a week.
Tom
