A policy for high standards of living conditions may be expected...to affect particularly the incidence of tuberculosis, apart altogether from the effect of treatment of those stricken with the disease. Indeed, a policy for the abolition of slums and overcrowding, for a piped water supply and decent sanitation standards in all houses, for a nourishing diet for the whole population, for good wages and adequate holidays and for a reasonable level of maintenance for the destitute, will reduce the incidence of tuberculosis more surely, in our opinion, than the provision of sanatoria and clinics, essential as it is to increase these treatment facilities at the same time.⁸

Despite Garland and Hart's suggestions, not much changed in Newfoundland. Living conditions remained poor. TB continued to strike people down.

For most of the 20th century there were also very few sanatoria beds for those who had TB. Here is how an Evening Telegram editorial described the problem in March, 1937:

The deaths from tuberculosis last year were something like 550. In nearly every civilized country today it is agreed that two beds should be provided for every death in the country. At the present time we have 175 beds where we should have 1000.⁹

Because there were so few hospital beds, most people with tuberculosis were forced to stay at home. But this was not the best way to treat the disease. Dr. E.S. Peters, a well respected doctor, had this to say about home treatment in 1939:

Home treatment of tuberculosis in this country is, in most cases, a grim joke. Neither the housing, the diet, the sanitation, the habits, and the social customs of our people are favourable to its success.¹⁰