WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 716, 28 October 1914, Page 2

WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board was held at Hamilton on Thursday. Attendance on Natives: The District Health Officer, Dr if. H. Makgill, wrote that ho had approved the payment of £SO per annum to the medical officer of the South Kawfcia Medical Club for attendance on natives, the payment to bs mads directly to him as the Board wished. Horses for Nurses: The District Medical Officer wrote re horses engaged in native work. He noted that the Board considered the expenditure on liorsss for such nurses inadvisable. He was not sure of that with respect to the nurse stationed in the Wsikato district. The distances were great and the work scattered. In the case of the nurse at ui f the horse lent her had proved of very great assistance. It has also resulted int he saving of expanse. After discussion, in -which it was suggested that hiring ' would bo cheaper than purchase and the cost of keep; and that tha Public Health Department ought to hnv the. horse if needed. Mr Kay gave notice of motion that a horse, saddle and bridle be purchased for the nurse at TaumarunuiNatives and Hospitals: Tha District Health Officer writing in respect of typhoid casss, agreed with the Board that it was better from the practical and economic viewpoints to treat typhoid cases in a general hospital rather tha? in a temporary camp. Unfortunately the natives were imbued with a fear of hospitals and were much more ready to go into temporary places organised at their setilemsnts. The native mind was very greatly influenced by fears and superstitions, bo much so as to atfect the physical condition. A native removed against hia will to a place he held in terror was liable to die as much from the effect of his imagination a3 from anything else. .It was hoped gradually to educate the natives to trust in hospitals and civilised, methods of treatment, bnfc it could not be dr.ne all at ones. Where possible it would always be tried to get them to hospitals, but ho nid not think it could be hoped to avoid tha temporary camp. The District Health Officer later sent a wire notifying a typhoid outbreak among natives at Ta Reua, near Kakahi. It was impossible to bring cases to tha hospital from there, so he was organising a camp with NuraO'Mooro in charge. The letter was received. Taumarunui Hospital: The superintendent reported that in the Taumanjnui hospital thero wete seven patients on the first day of the month. Fresh cases numbered six.- Ssven were discharged. Receipts from patients amounted to £lO 4s. £