SCARLET FEVER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17282, 25 September 1916, Page 3

SCARLET FEVER.

BOTTLE LAKE HOSPITAL. MINISTER SATISFIED WITH BOARD'S EFFORTS. The Hon G. W. RusscTl, Minister of Internal Affairs, accompanied by Mr F. Horrell (chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) and ]>r Chcsson, District Health Officer, visited the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Bottle Lake on Saturday fcnd inspected the building and inquired into proposals to extend them. He gave special attention to patients suffering from scarlet fever. Mr Russell, on returning to the city, stated to Press representatives that there were 167 patients in the hospital—lß women, 6 men, 1 boy and 143 children. The patients were enjoying themselves in tho full sunlight, and seemed to him to bo very bright and happy. Most of them were going actively about. After carefully inspecting the marquees and the buildings, he was satisfied that the board was meeting an, extremely difficult position with much ability. The marquees were floored throughout, and were about Ift above tho level of the ground j they were spotlessly clean and the ventilation—in the day-time, at least—was perfect. The Minister, however, is convinced that the additional buildings provided for In the board's scheme -are absolutely necessary. The administrative accommodation is below the necessities of dining-rooms for patients and staff and in other respects. The board proposes immediately to erect another ward, and to turn a part of the old building into dining-rooms for patients and staff. This will provide dining accommodation for about ninety patients. Mr Russell said that he would approve of the erection of .another ward, making three additional wards, which would provido residential accommodation for a total of 120 patients, which he thought was quite sufficient for normal years. Ho felt, also, that provision should be made for a gravitation water supply scheme. He had suggested to tho board that tanks should be erected at a height of thirty or forty feet in order to provido a supply that would bo immediately effective in case of fire. It could be tho main supply for ordinary use. As to drainage, the board, with the Department's approval, wa c making a. septic tank, which would meet all tho requirements. "On the whole," Mr Russell said " the board has done excellently in meeting the epidemic in tho face of exceptional difficulties. I am satisfied that the provision about to be made, together with tho suggestions I made to the chairman this morning, will be adequate for .inv troubles likely to arise in the future. Epidemics in and near Christchurch previously liwo beon dealt with at the Hospital, with extra accommodation in tho way of tents and shelters. But this y-?ar the epidemic was so prolonged and so intensive that neither the board nor the Department could cope with it. Canterbury practically is the only district in New Zealand where the scarlet fever epidemic is so widespread. Last week's returns, however, show that there were only thirty-one freah cases in Canterbury, and I believe that the epidemic is subsiding. If proper precautions are taken, it soon would bs a thing of the past,"