LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 839, 10 June 1910, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

CAMBRIDGE SANATORIUM. Sir,—l notice in this morning's "New Zealand Herald" the report of an article by your journal on the general dissatisfaction which prevails ajnong the patiemte at To Waikato Sanatorium, Cambridge. - Tho letter of "One of the Unfortunates" is quito deserving of public notice, and-is not, as the.Minister would have us to suppose, merely the voicing of a personal grievance. Not. satisfied, the Minister further goes on to say, with customary carelessness as to. facts, that no complaints have been received by the Department as to tho system at present in vogue. I am in a position to say that some, little time ago—about two or three months ago—a petition was forwarded to the Minister complaining of the food. Then, again, complaints were made to Dr. Valintine personally. Both the above attempts, only had the .effect of drawing special animus towards the complainants. The Minister next tries to create the impression that there are no bad cases at : the institution. It is well known that patients do not always do well on Mangakawa Hill, and there .arebad cases at the-sanatorium.' Light work may he beneficial—an'd light work of the right kind certainly is—but only to some patients. Then, again, it is necessary that the work be of a nature which will enable patients- to carry it out in a healthful and cheerful t way. The secret ' is, the Government wishes to dispense with the services of a porter, who up to tho present has always'done the work which is now particularly objected to. It has never been, the rule, or nt any rate not to my knowledge—a matter of some years—for patients to be aJlowcd to pass their time in idleness. Light employment of a hopeful, healthy character has always been recommended, and as< a rule tho patients have taken it up cheerfully and without a murmur. The dispensing with a night nurse from a colony of 20 to 23 patients is to my mind scandalous. It. is quite possible for a patient to die in his own blood before any skilled help could possibly be summoned. There is a great deal which one might say,' but I refrain, 'as my_ pen might run oh unduly. The condition of things at • the sanatorium is tad, in spite of , the statements of the Minister- to the contrary, and the sooner the public become interested, so much the sooner will things be put straight: Trusting, you will find space for this letter.—l am, etc., i : '• WILLIAM TELL. Hamilton, June 8, 1910. Sir,—l read your correspondent's letter regarding Cambridge Sanatorium and the new regulations. As I had been there I was much interested in the subject. And, although sympathising with thofe who have, to take advantage of the sanatorium on account of health, I fail to see anything unreasonable in the regulation, or anything which would bo detrimental to. their health. About a year ago, I procured' an English Government publication- on the subject, giving ■ a minute description of each sanatorium in England, w.ith the work done by the patients and' the result of the' treatment, and I , find that in most cases where tho

'£ resulfa were. obtained the patients practically did tho same- work as they are required to do by the new regulations for Cambridge. What objection can there be to ewecp out their room or shelter, and make their beds or empty slops, if necessary? Nor why should the patients not take their sputum mugs to be clennsed and replace it by-a sterilised one? TTieir establishment costs the country a. large sum of money per annum, and the Dominion is to be congratulated upon having an establishment of tho kind. Surely the least we can ask the patients to do is to keep the cost as low as possible, for the fees don't pay onethird of the cost. For the sake of discipline and health I hope that the regulations willv be enforced.—l am, etc., . .J.G.Wi