A FRONTAL ATTACK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1989, 20 February 1914, Page 8

A FRONTAL ATTACK.

ON CONSUMPTION.

ouTPosi 1 sKmmisHiNa ABANDONED,

IMPORTANT DECISION.

A comprehensive report dealing with the duties'of a. medical tuberculosis officer was presented to the Hospital and Charitable Aid-Board, yesterday afternoon by Dr. Hardwick • Smith, medical superintendent, in view of the board's proposal to appoint such an officer. Dr. Hardwick Smith's report was as fellows :— "Before I mention the leasons for the appointment of a medical tuberculosis oitioer and explain the scope of his work, I should like to briefly supply a few facts in regard to the work and arrangements at present in existence in the Wellington district for the treatment of tuberculosis of tb# chest. % deal with tuberculosis properly in a-given district, it is necessary that certain arrangements exist .-for tho proper carrying out of the work. The Wellington Hospital Board has provided the Otaki Sanatorium and the Seddon Hospital, 'for early and chronic cases, • respectively. The board has also given its sanction for a tuberculosis dispensary. In the institutions tho patients are treated and taught to take proper care of themselves, and not to infect others with whom they come ift contact. They are also written.to and asked tc report their condition frequently. They are also advised to see their medical attendant at intervals.

A Futile Campaign, "You must see that this is net. satisfactory. We aro at' present, attacking tho outposts only, and not reaching tho main army. The diagnosis of tho '-disease is at present left in tho hands of the. patient. For one early ease presented for treatment, a dozen, iaio cases como. Other medical'men in the district will tell tho samo tale. The patient, through ignorance, appears when the disease is far advanced and beyond euro, for in most cases tho disease comes on-" insidiously. W© are treating the disease hut not teaching its prevention. It is a sad fact that tho'Seddon" Hospital is nearly always full, whereas • the Sanaat Otaki has ofton vacancies, 'There a re. two- ways, of dealing with tho 'disease as.the population- increases. One is to go on as wo aro doing at present arid...increase our accommodation at tho Hospital and Otaki—a useless 'and expensive method. The other method' is to .start a dispensary for chest diseases, and'mako tlififc '■ the eantre of the scheme. Place it'under'the'eare- of an expert in: chest :'dijsea'so and teach prevention., - . '■> ■.

. imwjrtaht. poiiit- in connection with tho dispensary :is that it. will set in co-operation with tho .existing .institutions.and- overlapping, will bo avoided; also important will be-the-examinations of all members of the .family, who have been in cOntactwith tho patient.-Cases will;bo diagnosed'in fha, .early .stages,; .wljiolv otherwise. w6u-.]d,'have- been' uhsuspected until too. late- for : treatment. Patients are als0 ! lent open air'- shelters fW.us'o in-baokTOrds arid .garddnfc, ■ It is evident,to -a-H' the.great goad whhih: can bo brought-about by means of a d'i?,-i ■pensary, especially fi'lien. Worked in -conjunction with institution!? for-early and late cases of consumption, "The tuberculosis officer would haveunder his directcqiutrol the dispensary, the Otaki' S'.mato'rinmV- and ! 'the Seddoti Annexe.. Flo". would, ; by moans' of the; 'nurse arid the co-operattojttff tlte medical practitioners in the-,: district., reach the homos of the peojsle.' H,o would also' by moans of his statistics bo able to ascertain where the disease was rriosi prevalent, in town or country, and .inquire into the housing problem and other mat* tors. He.wouW he a help to themedical practitioners in-, the district, both ift. consultation -and ;.afi'sii#Jg them in obtaining apparatus and shelters if necessary ''..'.

Haphazard Methods.. Dr. Mackenzie Wd te * as r concerned about the report, not that. he did not fife the necessity tot the aptwintmont. Ho. was coining to the conclusion that ; <they w.ero doing a lot of things in a us.phnsftfd way at tho Hospital, Ho beliovcd tho first highlypaid, offieer they needed- thoio was .aqualified organiser,-a .layman, to loo:k after the organisation of. the Hospital and.staff. There wiis/room for such & man, even if. he co'st £1000 a year. He thought the honorary 6-taff should he consulted about the-. tuberculosis, officer. Ho thought. Dr. .Hardwick Smith should be- sblo to devote more time to medical work, aiid not have to look after tho organisation. Mr, G. Nash, deprecated the remark being tna.de about bad management in tho'Hospital, There'were'no proofs forthcoming, although these complaints were made at every-meeting. >■ ■ Mr. D. .M'JJarert' supported the pro* posal to appoint a properly qualified tuberculosis officer. It was one of tho most desirable thing's they : could go in for. • ..:•./ .-,'.-' Dr. Mackenzie said he was willing to ..give instances where improvement could be made at the-Hospital, but lie did not desire : them to get into tho public Press. ■'■-.'.,' The Rev. W,'.Evans Suggested £bst if Dr. Mackenzie bad' any suggestions to make to improve the -affairs at the Hos-pitati he should; meet a committee and let them "thrash it put.'..

Mr. J. ViVM'Ewan said ho did not propose to enter into the argument which had .been .raised,, apart from the reports The'adaption of the proposal ■was .going to cost them .sctno money, The 'Medical Superintendent said that it was proposed to'turn ~ the old out* patients,' hospital, into a dispensary. It would-cost from £150. to-£2OO. Mr. M'ltoan. Agreed that dispensaries and tuberculosis-- officers were; good pal* lktives, but there was" a..wider cmes» tion to look at-in this disease. • There was no doubt th'at tlfo;.State and the municipalities wero not-doings their dut.v to tho proner -.extent. The- Rev. H. Van Sjjtyijren -said the report presented was l most . compre* herisrve, and ho hoped it/.infold ho adopted,. and an officer .appointed, so that they could do something,.to grappl« with the scourge. \, r ,'■-.'■• Mr. P/ Castle thought' that'if the Stiito' was ..going to carry out- a campaign against consumption they' would have-to <sxtend operations toexani'initig the people to'catch 1 tho disenßo"'in the early -stages, -and -pa-haps -'.'extend the examination'- to tho' children' in' the i schools. ' ' -, The report was adopted. - : ' •