Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1901. CONSUMPTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 November 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1901. CONSUMPTION.

Consumption, its cause and cure, has occupied the attention of the best scientist of the day. At the recent conference held at Homo the disease was discussed, in all its bearings, and several modes of treatment put forward. As to these remedies author-

ifcies appear to be divided, but as sound medical advice to tbo public upon questions regarding the prevention or cure o£ disease is always welcome, the remarks of Dr, Mason, head of the New Zealand Health Department, will be read with interest. Dealing with the question he devotes a great deal of his first report to the removable factors of consumption, and ho upholds as a legitimate tax upon the people the cost of the establishment of a sanatora for the treatment of consumption. Be goes on to say: “ There are in New Zealand many situations where such Institutions might be erected with the greatest possible benefit, but 1 would suggest that we move with caution in this matter. For that reason I recommended that a sanatorium capable of accommodating twenty males and twenty females be established by way of experiment. Bearing in mind the beneficient effects of fresh air and sunlight, I proposed that the Institution should consist of a brick administrative

block containing rooms for doctor, nurses and all the accommodation necessary for the treatment of forty patients. So far, there is nothing special in the character of the building. It is in the arrangements of bedro.ms, however, that the special feature of the building will lie. The plan I suggested was to arrange the corridor so that the rooms, which are movable, could be unhooked in the morning, turned round so as to expose the occupant to the sun, and yet shelter him from the wind. With the grounds properly laid out, the patient could be wheeled about, and as night came on, his bedroom would bo taken back and hooked on to the corridor again. The estimated cost of such a building would bo somewhere about £IO,OOO. This sum, though considerable, is small in comparison to what is being spent by many of the separate states in America, As an off-set against this expenditure, the lessened number of patients now being treated in general hospitals would have to be considered and, what is far more important, the segregation of those unfortunate, who have, added to their physical sufferings, the constant dread of injuring those that are nearest and dearest to them. Careful and exhaustive enquiries are being made all over the colony in order that the most suitable site for the erection of an openair sanatorium may bo selected. I have personally visited and inspected many of the suggested places, and each of the district health officers are actively enquiring into the matter. 1 hope to bo able to lay the result of these investigations before you shortly. I trust that before another yearly report is made, that at loa;t one such necessary institution has been erected.” In this country compared with other lands the percentage of consumption to the total population is small, but that perhaps is all the more reason why special efforts should be made to stamp it out ere it gets a stronger hold in the colony.