THE CARE OF THE SICK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2521, 23 July 1915, Page 6

THE CARE OF THE SICK

AT. TRENTHAM

I EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BEINC

DONE,

In the House of. Representatives yesterday afternoon Dr. Thacker (Christchurch East) asked leave to make a. statoment with regard to Trentham matters, but before he could proceed the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) pointed out that a Royal Commission was sitting to inquire into Trentham Camp conditions, and bethought the hou. member should postpone his statement.

Dr. Thacker: "This is to help humanity, and to help those men who ! are lying there, and cannot help themselves. It has nothing to do with the Royal Commission. If I cannot make a statement I will ask a question." Mr. Speaker: "Verbal questions are asked by the indulgence of the House. Is it the pleasure of the House that the lion, gentleman should have leave to make a statement?"

Mr. Massey and Government members: "No!"

Dr. Thacker then gave notice to ask tho following questions:' (1) Arc tho men urgently sick, and maybo fatally sick, at Trentham Hospital in the best sanitary conditions obtainable for those suffering from cerebro-spinal meningitis? (2) Are they not lying under tho grandstand—a dungeon—where up-to-date methods cannot bo applied to them, such as lumbar puncture, aspiration, and infusion of aoiti-meningo cocic-seram? ■ (3) If there is a sufficiency of this serum; and. if not, is it being made? (4) Is nasal and throat douching with irrigations of-permangaai-ate-of-potash solutions in use? (5) Is urotropine being administered ?. (6) Are the men. who are convalescent having the use of total in antiseptic baths? (7) Are they having the bestnursing foods obtainable? (8) Arc they in fresli air and, sunlight? (9) Are they able to'take slight .exercise? (10) Gan'private doctors attend sick patients; at : . the camp, if; so desired', by parents' and-relatives? .'/;■>

Dr. Thacker added the following note : The men • should -be in sunlight , and fresh air, and, when convalescent, means should be provided for the men to take slight cxcrcise. Tonics and appetising foods with plenty of changes of' invalid' clothes should' be supplied. In my opinion an up-to-date private hospital should be commandeered with modern aseptic surroundings, so that the repeated applications of lumbar puncture can be carried out as an aseptic surgical course, complete isolation: being an absolute necessity. Further, all cases in the catarrhal and septic throat conditions to be quarantined in isolation and observation wards,' and thus prevent the dissemination of the disease throughout the Dominion.

A Daily Bulletin. At a later stago the, Hon. D: Buddo (JCaiapoi) asked if a daily bulletin could not bei,issued 1 , about the patients at Trentham. in view of the. unfavourable reports about cerebro-spinal mcningitjs in that morning's papers. The public were naturally anxious about the cases, and it would bo a very good thing if a bulletin could be given, instead of the very vague reports given out from time to time.

Statement by Prime Minister. The Prime-Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) said that the Minister of Public Health had gone out to Trentham that afternoon, and was looking into the conditions there. He (Mr. Massey) had expected the Minister would have telegraphed a report at once. Mr. Massey continued, and said that'he had taken tho opportunity of visiting Trentham Gamp and Hospital a few days ago, and, in order to prevent any wrong impression which might be caused by the question given notice of,_ lie; could say that the patients suffering from cerebro-spinal meningitis had-any amount of fresh air and sunshine, and, so far as lie could sec, whatever medical aeienc© ooultl do was being done for the patients. Thero were probably ten or twelve medical men there during his visit, and at least fifty nurses.' There was no possible ground for the complaint of want of attention. He had had the opportunity of seeing the parents of two of the men, and they expressed themselves in tho warmest possible terms of what was being done. He hoped that would set at rest any anxious 1 feeling._ ' They must expect cases of mortality where they ,had so many sick, but he belioved that in a very few days they wouldhave got to the'end of the_ trouble. Ho _ would bo very pleased to'sce that the request for a daily bulletin was complied with.