CONSUMPTION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1932, Page 3

CONSUMPTION

OPEN-AIR TREATMENT-

GOOD RESULTS OBTAINED

WELLINGTON. Jan 26.

Though scientists are still differing on the subject of cancer theories, while methods of treatment are showing at least modest results, steady progress is being made in combating what was once an equally hopeless scourge, consumption. The iiic’retfsing influence of the open-air, and Ultra-violet rays in the treatment of tuberculosis was described to a correspondent of the “Times” by Sir Louis Barnett, who, during a year’s .stay in England and Europe made himself thoroughly familiar with the latest developments. “I went over the clinic of Dr Roilier at Leysin in Switzerland,” said .Sir Louis, “and found it to be a wonderfully well organised sanatorium chiefly for surgical tubercular cases. It is situated high up in the mountains, where the patients are subrnuted to graduated doses of exposure to the open-air sunshine, winter and summer, and with marvellous results. These patients are encouraged to work, again with excellent results. 'Some of them are trained in vocations, and all encouraged to do something. I 1 or example, I saw scores arid scores of little electric motors attached to the heads of the beds of patients, who while Urey were being exposed to sunshine, with nothing on bu)t a loin-cloth, were operating lathes, and making wireless parts and doing turnery. The women did embroidery and basket-making—-hundreds were busily employed . and making money Roilier himself is very keen on the industrial side. AN ENGLISH EXAMPLE,

‘‘ln England I saw The same principle adopted at Papworth, near Cambridge, where Sir Varrier Jones has a 'tuberculosis village.’ Here, the patients, as soon as they are in a fit state to work, are encouraged to earn a living for their families They are provided with cottages and live with their families, and Papworth is becoming a hive of industry, a great centre for 'the manufacture of such things as suit-cases, cabin trunks, invalid furniture, and all kinds of poultry houses.” The open-air school .-movement, is progressing in England and, 011 the Con- . tinent, according to Sir Louis, who | visited open-air schools at Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London. "They are really most interesting, though none 1 saw were quite as good or on the same lines as the opai-air school at 'Fendalton, Christchurch, where they have the advantage of a large area and onestorey buildings. But the movement is spreading because it is found that the health of the children is very much better, find 'theif“m'enta : lity'"fmi.t proved. In England they are finding the open-air schools of use for delicate children, and the results are geneially so excellent, that as opportunity offers they will extend the use of this type of school building ‘ for normal 'boys and girls, realising the benefit they will also get from the system.”