TUBERCULOSIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1867, 29 September 1913, Page 3

TUBERCULOSIS.

FIGHT WITH THE SCOURGE. . WHAT IS BEINC DONE. In the annual report of the Public Health Department, there are the following references to tubercular diseases: — The doaths from phthisis numbered 524, giving a mortality-rate of 6.04 per 10,000 of the mean population—the .lowest hitherto recorded. The deaths from other forms of tuberculosis numbered 192—tho mortality-rato being 1.85 — which is also tho lowest rate hitherto recorded. The report of tho Tuberculosis Conference was jssued in February. Many of tho hospital boards are acting on the suggestions contained in that report, and an effort is generally being made to infuse energy into the tuberculosis campaign. The Auckland Hospital Board has acquired land for a sanatorium at Tamaki, where it is proposed to erect a sanatorium fpr not less than fifty patients. When this is erected there will be 231 beds available for consumptive patients ill the four sanatoria and that pro: posed; and, though this does not nearly approximate the. number recommended by tho conference, Now Zealand will be proportionately better olf as regards beds available for the special treatment of the disease than any other country. Little or noiiiing has been done with regard to the establishment of farm colonies. The Wellington and Otago Hospital Boards havo ample land adjoining their sanatoria for tlie purpose, and it is to bo hoped that such labour colonies will shortly bo initiated in connection with these institutions. In the meantime, however, the boards consider that the establishment of these colonies is more a matter for the Government than (the. hospital 'boards; hence nothing is likely to be done until tho matter is settled. Bearing in mind the increasing. cost of hospital expenditure, it must bo admitted that the boards have reason to be fearful that the ■ contributing local authorities will strongly protest at the substantial increase in tho levies that the establishment of these colonies would involve. References to the hospital statistics Show that 426 consumptives were treated iii our chief sanatoria during the past year. ' It is difficult just now to estimate to what extent the establishment of tuberculosis dispensaries will increase the demands for admission to our sanatoria. Nevertheless, with the establishment of a sanatorium in the Auckland : Province and a comparatively slight increase in the number of beds at our existing institutions, it may bo possible to afford accommodation to those patients for whom sanatorium treatment is desirable without increasing the accommodation to the extent recommended by the Tuberculosis Conference. • It is to be hoped that the amendment of tlie Hospitals and Public Health. Acts, .considered necessarv. to giveteffect to certaiii recommendations of the Tuberculosis Conference, will be favourably Considered. ...