£5000 WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2012, 20 March 1914, Page 8

£5000 WANTED.

« FOR A CONVALESCENT HOME FOR CHILDREN. AN INLAND SITE URGED. Steps are to bo taken in Wellington to pise a sum of £5000, probably by an appeal to the public, for the erection of a convalescent 'home 'for children. The matter was first raised at a meeting of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board a month ago,'when Mrs. D. M'Laren moved that a special committee should report on tho matter. At yesterday's meeting of the board the committeo's 'report was adopted. This report stated that it was desirable that a convalescent homo should be established in somo place outside tho city of Wellington, and that the necessary steps should be taken to raise £5000 for establishing and furnishing the homo: also that tho Hospital Saturday and Hospital Sunday collections this year should be devoted to that object. The Medical Superintendent (Dr. H. Hardwick Smith) reported on the matter. It was, ho said, unnecessary to enlarge on the advantage to be gained by a convalescent home in the treatment of children. Many children camo into hospital for diseases which, had thoy been brought up in the country, they would not have fallen victims to, and many children attended the Hospital for general debility and lack of vigour, which were due to day after day and year after year in a town with no change of environment. To Prevent Disease. It was more important for a child to have a change of scene and climate than it was for an adult, for tho latter had ; become resistant to tho disadvantages of a town life. It- was no wonder, continued the doctor, that the children camo again and again to tho Hospital, with each recurring year, for some complaint. This would, have been .unnecessary had they, after their present illness, been removed from their homes for i a thorough change. He considered that in providing a convalescent home for children the board would commence a campaign against disease and ill-health that would bo second to none in its grand results. They would save many a home from sickness and many a parent from care and sadness. And in the strong men and women which such a ! convalescent homo would be the means i of rearing, many unborn children would grow up to bless those who were wise to sop tho great need of combating disease and ill-health in childhood. He felt strongly on this matter, perhaps more strongly than many, hecauso a doctor who had seen and treated little ones so often realised tho all-importanco of this great, disease-prcventiyo work. Tho old adage that "prevention is better than>cure" was being taught to its fullest extent when sickly children were brought to full vigour and strength' in a convalescent home. The First Step 3. Discussing tho ways and means necessary for providing such a home. Dr. Hardwick Smith said: — Firstly, a home to hold twenty children would bo sufficient to commenco ■with. Secondly, tho noma to bo .under the control of tho Hospital Board, and patients for the home to bo recommended by the board through their responsible officers. Thirdly, that a qualified nurse be in charge, of the institution. Fourthly, that a sufficient amount of ground! bo obtained around tho homo for breatliing space, children's games and exercises, and to allow for'future development. * Finally, the position of the home was -important. Ho had always said that dry inland air was the best place for a convalescent home. The most suitable place was ono which would combino tho following advantages ; — (a) Elevation from 350 to GOO- feet. (b) Gravel soil, or soil which will allow good drainage, (c) Shelter from strong prevailing winds, (d) Plenty of sunshine. An Inland Heme, "There aro many places around Wellington where the above conditions are mot with," said Dr. Hardwick Smith's report. "I have always been of opinion that a convalescent home at tho seaside is not suitable for patients from tno Wellington district. I have given you my opinions, based on my own experiences. But the opinion I have given is not a new one, but is accepted by tho great authorities on children's ailments. I will 'state the views of Professor C. Gilmer Kerley, who is Professor of Diseases of Children in New York Polyclinic Medical School, and a physician of repute in' New York.' Ho says: 'It is not to be understood that many children will not do well at\tho seashore, some indeed improve most satisfactorily, but amongst my own patients 1 have repeatedly been impressed with the disadvantages of a too prolonged stay. at. tho ceashore. If ikopt there during hot months, infants' are apt to show signs of lassitude, and while not ill they do not return to the city in tho autumn with tho vigour, appetite, and general robustness which characterise those from the hills and mountains. Children whose home K is a seaport thrive best when given the benefit of a complete change to the dry, invigorating air inland. Children with a tendency to colds, bronchitis, adenoids, and rheumatism should not go to the seashore wherever thoy reside.' Professor Kerley is emphatic that children in seaports must go for a change to an inland resort. I ■ havo quoted his remarks to give all this more emphasis to my own."