Scourge of Consumption

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1922, Page 1

Scourge of Consumption

DR. BLACKMORF/S INDICTMENT.

DUNEDIN, April 20

Mr Knight (chairman of the Otago Hospital Board), when seen this morning in reference to Dr CL J. Blackmore’s statement about consumption said:—“lt is the duty of every Board to provide for the treatment and cure of consumption as far as possible, but the prevention of it should be a matter for the Public Health Department. After patients are discharged we a.ro able to keep in touch with them for a time, but eventually we lose sight of them altogether. A\ e know also that, on more than one occasion, consumptives have inter-mar-ried. There is also a reluctance on the part of people who might be cured in the early stages to submit themselves for examination. Afore encouragement should he given to people to come forward and be examined. Dr Black more is quite right when be says that there is no defined national policy. Patients, the way things are at present, can walk out of any institution at their own sweet will. Nothing more bits been hoard of the scheme to establish a Government sanatorium in Otago Central, but it is understood that a site for such an institution has been selected at Waipiata. It is quite evident that far too much apathy has been shown in the past.”

AUCKLAND NEWSPAPER

CIO MAI ENT

AUCKLAND. April 20.

“The earnest and poignant appeal that tho director of the Christchurch Sanatorium makes for greater activity in the fiorlit against consumption should have some effect on the Pnrljamcntniy did the publiet m.ind,” says to-night’s “Star.” “This is hy no means the first time Dr Blackmoro has called attention to the inadequacy of the measures taken to combat consumption, but it is difficult to get people to realise what is required. It is only those who work among the affected who know what the lot of the consumptive family is like, how hard the struggle is for the stricken breadwinner, and how dangerous it is for the children to remain exposed to infection. As Dr Blackmore points out. not only are the exist ing sanatoria insufficient, hut little or nothing is done to cheek the disease at one of its main sources, the child in infected homes. A few years ago a campaign to provide means for saving these children was launched in Christchurch, hut apparently nothing has yet I ten done, and me' do not know that Christchurch requires such a movement any more than the other centres. These children will ho future patients if something, is not done to protect them. The State has a larger duty in this matter than it realises, and its provisions might well Iw supplemented hy private effort.”