CONSUMPTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3623, 7 April 1927, Page 4

CONSUMPTION.

PROM A PATIENT’S POINT OP VIEW. . At different times during the past lew years letters and articles have appeared in the various newspapers on the evergreen subject o£ consumption, tuberculosis or, to call it by its nicest name “T. 8.” The writer being a sufferer from T.B. for some years would like to add his quotum from the point of view of a patient. The idea of this is not to be clever or smart at the Government’s expense, but to help in a small way towards placing before the public of New Zealand facts and awakening them to the terrible anomaly which exists in the Health Department’s “modus operandi” in regard to the T.B. question. Dr. BLACKMORE LEADING AUTHORITY. Chief among the letters referred to above are those of Dr. Blackmore, of Cashmere Sanotorium. Dr. Blackmore is undoubtedly the leading authority on this subject south of the line and one would think the opinions of such a man would have some effect on those who are handling the situation. But, until recently, they seemed to have as much effect as water on the home duck’s back. At last, however, the writing on the wall has had its effect in the form of the Conference held in Christchurch some weeks ago. The reports of delegates were also published. These reports brought forth among other things a letter from Dr. T. N. Valentine, Director General of Publis Health. This was also published. The following statements were made: No new sanitoria to be built because there were 70 vacant beds at Pukeora San. Preponderance of cases in South Island over the North and no scientific research in regard to T.B. be made and finally the oft repeated offer once more to hand over the Sanitoria to the Hospital Boards. Some people call this sort of thing “camouflage,” others a complete admission of incompetence and defeat. The shortage of beds is accounted for in that the general public have no faith in the administration of Pukeora San and now that the residence clause is reduced to three months, every one who can manage it at all is going to Christchurch, to Cashmere Hills San. with Dr. Blackmore where they have confidence. When the writer was at Pukeora San. under Dr. Short, the place was packed full. This also accounts partly, if not wholly, foi the South Island patients, etc. No scientific research to be started. It is a peculiar thing that scientific research in Agricultuie and eradication of blackberry, rabbits, etc., is quite au fait. There is also the recently formed Board'of Scientific Research with a very able and carefully chosen personel. All this for the specific purpose which Dr. Valentine so sweepingly condemns. The fact that something to ease the sufferings of his fellow creatures might be discovered in the process, but it does not appear to appeal to the Director-General of Public Health. NATIONALISATION.

In one of his letters, Dr. Blackmore suggests nationalising the trouble; also states that the Government could do more financially than they are doing. Too truel For the simple reason that they (the Government) are doing absolutely nothing towards helping a civilian T.B. patient in any shape nr form. If ft ease is “notified" the Health Department steps in, gets him out of his billet, and takes care that he won’t get another if they can help it. He is then dropped like a hot potato and let rip As to what will happen to his wife and family does not interest or trouble the Department one whit. He is probably recommended to go into a sanatorium. This takes time, for various reasons, and here the trouble starts. While it is not absolutely necessary to isolate a T.B. case' (like cholera or smallpox), there are certain rules of living, etc., that the patient must rigidly obey. These can only be learned by the strict discipline of a sanatorium or similar place. If these are not observed strictly, the patient (quite innocently) becomes a deadly menace to public health, and remains so till he is under proper treatment. TWO CLASSES. T.B. patients are roughly divided into two classes —returned soldier and civilian. If our patient is a returned soldier, everything is on velvet; if a civilian, God help him, for no one else will. The Governmen certainly have provided sanatoria for the relief of T.B. sufferers, but unless he has 11s per day for seven days a week, or its guaranteed equivalent, sanitoria, as far as he is concerned, might as well never have been invented. He stops outside. Just like the public bar of an hotel, if you haven’t got the price, you stop outside. The plain truth is, no person with a T.B. “activity” should be allowed to mix with either children or adults until he has been under proper and scientific treatment and given permission to do so. This is a disease which no one is immune from, and be you six or sixty, if your system is open for it you’ll get it. The fact of being big, lusty, strong, etc., is no guarantee. There are patients in the sanitoria up to 14 stone weight who have got it badly. Do the Government really think that by attending to the wants of

a small and steadily decreasing band of returned soldiers, and agsolutely ignoring in every way the civilian, and leaving him to stew in his own juice, they are boiny to cope with —much less stamp out — this awful scourge that is silently crawling over the land like a venomous snake, ready to strike any one within reach? It is neither sensible or fair to expect the general medical practitioner to find out a cure for this trouble. He has neither the time, money, or necessary apparatus for this, and when he has don his day’s work (say, 18 hours), lie is hardly in the frame of mind to go chasing T.B. germs as a side line. The man we must look to is the pathologist-bacteriologist, who, armed with microscope and test tube, etc., and with access to a properly equipped laboratory, can track the germ to its lair, and, like Marmion of old, beard the lion in its den. Is there any reason (except criminal apathy) why a research laboratory should not be attached to. at least one of our New Zealand sanitoria Admitting tht a prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, why should it be assumed that our men are not as good as Gye, Sphalinger, Koch, etc.? These gentlemen are only human beings after all, who by dint of hard study, have raised themselves to where they are to-day. Such laboratory need not be confined to T.B. altogether

(To be continued).