CONSUMPTIVE SANITORIUM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 6

CONSUMPTIVE SANITORIUM

A SOUTH ISLAND BEQUEST.

Somo interesting information about consumptive sanatoria was given yesterday by the Hon. G. W. llussell. (Mm. iater of Publio Health) and Dr. Vahutine (Inspector-Geueral of Hospitals) to a deputation from South Canterbury and North Otago which waited on the Minister. The deputation had come with a request for a consumptive sanatorium in South Canterbury, and also with a request that it be built in a rather inaccessible, place on the shores of Lake Tekapo, in the Mackenzie Country, 30 miles from the railhead at Fairlie. With the request for a sanatorium the .Minister, and his chief adviser wero in complete sympathy, but neither of them agreed with the idea.of putting it at The main- difficulty pointed out in recard to the Tekapo proposal was that it would never be possible to keep a staff in such a place. It was; said by Dr Valintine that unless such places were established near towns, where the staff could have recreation and some X out of the institutes it was not possible U> keep them. Even in the Waikato Sanatorium, which was lot very'isolated, the staff was continually rhansmiK ' Very few .people, medical men g or g nurse 3 , y could Sear the mißory and suffering they must see aroundl them in consumptive sanatoria for toff, attended with such poor results a often followed the work done. It was pointed out ale" that the old idea that open air to the only treatment for consumption had changed. Nor was at!itude aseential for the situation of such places. I'Minister said that his policy w to have State-controlled institutions, «• n each island, for the treatment of incurables, leaving the rolied places to deal with curable cases as mm. ft wm admitted that there was need f« another institution in ho. South Island, the Christchurch Sanatorium being already full, and the place at Palmcistan having proved to be unsuitable. Dr. Valintino u<r ß ed that the now institution should bo a large one on fount of the difficulties about medical staff and tli.U tho South Canterbury local bodies should got tho Otago and West Coast people to join with them, liy this means a bif nstitutiou could be established and maintained. West Coast ropm*ntat»ee were present at the deputation, ahoy admitted that there was not enough accommodation for their people: at Usinicro Hills, and that they would havo to make other arrangements.