Treatment of Consumptives.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 August 1910, Page 4

Treatment of Consumptives.

AT OTAIvI SANATORIUM. REPORT BY THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT. Following is the full text of the report submitted to tilie Board of Trustees at Wellington, on Wednesday, regarding Otaki Hospital and Sanatorium, but the medical supesrintedent (Dr Hareliwick Smith): — STATISTICS. Results of patients discharged since opening of the Sanatorium, June 1907 :—From June 1907 to 31st March, 1908: Working, 17; not working, 4; lost sight of, 3; died, 17; total, 41. From Apr.il Ist, 1908, to March, 1909: Working, 20 ; not working, 11; lost sight of, 11; died, 9; total, 51. From April Ist, 1909, to March 31st, 1910: Working, 17; not working, 8; lost sight ot, 2; died, 8; total, 35. Twelve pat ients admitted this year are still under treatment. Results for tihiree years: Working, 54; not working, 23 ; lost sight of, 16; died, 34; total., 127. PATIENTS WORK. There is a tendency when treating patients in New Zealand to attempt to kill the germ of consumption by cultivating the germ of laziness and sluggishness. It is questionable whether it is better for a patient to survive the disease and lose litis moral fibre, therefore I advise that the patients be encouraged tx>_ work harder and employ their time for the good of their bodies and minds. The women do not seen to take a great 'interest in gardening. I tlunk if each had a plot to cultivate and were allowed to sow the seeds and bulbs she liked 'best, it would stimulate a greater interest, the cultivated flowers might be sold and the money realised be given as pin money or towards buying games, books, etc. It is necessary to stimulate them against physical and mental degeneracy, and it is difficult at times to make them realise that this is a part, and a most important part of their cure. Another matter I must just mention, and that is the necessity _of keeping the patients in a quiet, happy frame of mind and .free from worry, one morose fractious patient will keep back all the rest, and if lie or she (Toes not mend, then it is advisable that the patient be discharged at once. I would suggest to you that in future this is done.

Again, the patients at present stay from threo to six months, or even more. This rule had better lie adhered to, at present, except in tihc case of patients waiting to come in; tliose in the Sanatorium who do not improve or go backward after three months should at once be discharged to make room for new arrivals. But in the near future when the public is better educated in the matter of the diagnosis and treatment of phthisis, we will have many more patients applying for admission. If that time conies, .1 would propose to you, sirs, that the patients only stay from one to three months at the most, they should go to the Sanatorium to learn how to live, and then go into the country, and be given the opportunity of earning a living. No individual who has had phthisis, however slight, should ever go hack to office work. The Government are at present giving work to some of these unfortunate people in tree planting, hut the work is not on a large enough scale for all. It is essential that they should be given Outdoor occupation if they wish to keep fit after being discharged. I repeat, use the Sanatonhim to teach the patient how to live and then let hi in go and employ . the knowledge gained to cure himseli and oclueate those around him. It is the pre-phthisieal case we want to get that is, the case that if neglected will develop phthisis. These cases are given a rest for a month or six weeks and they will he completely cured. The public must lie educated by literature, etc., jmto realising the importance of visiting their nieeliral advisor. I guarantee that if the chests of the whole population of Wellington were examined many wouild be found to he suffering from consumption in varying degrees, who were totally ignorant of the fact.

COMMENTS T'PON STATISTICS. The statistics given you are not concl .s: >e, but in so lar as they go, are (••.m;-ineing and prove to me'that good is lining done. StiJl I propose to en !ca .w.ir to roach e.r h patient. I 'li.i . o asked for the addresses of all patients in or near Wellington; 1 v.:l then write to these patients [ .'il l as kthem to allow me to examk ii.e their chests and report on theii condition, by that means our statistics will be of more value; also we shall keep in touch with our patients. There is a class of patient who is rather neglected at present. I refer to the patient who is too far advanced for Sanatorium treatment —the chronic consumptive. In the near future I am hoping plans will be drawn up to eieai with tJiea* cases. Hy the chronic consumptive T mean the olass at present in tho Secldon Shelters, with a few exceptions this class, if they wish treacmest, should be given it under the best surroundings. To my ininc< they would be much happier and healthier at Otaki. It would he necessary to isolate them and give them an absolutely separate establishment to themselves, but till that takes place the Seddon Shelters must be used for these cases and to. keep patients who are awaiting theii time to go to Otaki. Tn a lew years time, I think it will be necessary to double or even treble the size of the Otaki Sanatorium, and use it as a school for teaching the pro-phthisical patient and treating the phthisical case as we'll. As I have s.ud, it must be our endeavour to there a class of patient v.'.ao ; i 3ally has not consumption, |> ,'j -.v'.o, if not treated, will develop the disease; when we get this class : ur Sanatorium will grow and then wc must obtain a resident medii(*.\l o. r :'ccr who will devote all his tine ai:' onerrv to teaching these unfortunate pc>,;*!c !'ow to live and lead us-f' l lires.

Finally, T w. "'ld cav, that as a health bo r ,rl, wo nvust teach the best treat.r.ent, which is prevention. We must ec/ucate the public how to live in their own homes, how to escape this disease and how to know when vjt is necessary for them seek mee'icaf advice and get propel treatment. I u ill dlose my report on the Sanatorium hy saying that good work ■is bedroj ,-lone, but it is notlw'ng to what will he done in the future, when we have educated the public into realising the importance of stamping out this scourge amongst them. OTAKI HOSPITAL. The Hospital is well equipped and weßl staffed, with ah excellent, nnrses' home. The staff consists of: The matron (who supervises both the Hospital and Sanatorium), one day sister, one night sister, one probationer, cook, housemaid and porter. The Hospital is well managed, ibut. it is seldom full,_ and often contains chronic cases wihich should be treated elsewhere. The reason that it is 'selcio'm full is because a great many of th people of the suira*>uiidang districts come down to the General Hospital at Wellington for! J rea J. ment -, .Again,, the Hospital is handlicapped t m that there is no resi- ; officer ' and hospitals shouklhave one if they wi& to the hest Tesults. I have made the suggestion that patients in the. Wellington Hospatai suffeting from

tuberculosis bone and gland diisea.se, particularly children, bo sent to Otaki and receive treatment there where they would benefit execodang-

iy Before the amalgamation toon, place, drugs and surgical appliance;, were obtained both locally and in Wellington, at prices higher than our own. Now all the drugs, dressings, etc., and appliances are obtained through the Wellington Hospital, at a considerable saving. The crockery, bodtlin gaud Hospital furniture will in future be obtained through (lie Hospital; I hope, at a savin.,. I consider the whole institution is well managed and I am satisfied thai the officers are endeavouring to promote economy with efficiency.