Treatment of T.B. to be Investigated

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 320, 3 April 1928, Page 1

Treatment of T.B. to be Investigated

B.M.A. TO ASSIST PROPOSAL WARMLY WELCOMED The decision of the Minister of Health to appoint three medical men as a committee for the investigation of tuberculosis, is hailed with appreciation by Auckland members of the British Medical Association. “TT is a decision that must be warmly commended by all medical men,” stated one of Auckland’s leading practitioners this morning. “So much has to be done in the way of investigating the cause, prevention and treatment of the disease, that the cooperation of practitioners who were brought into contact with it from so many points of view is imperative. It was understood, he said, that a free hand was to be given the three members of the British Medical Association appointed to comb the country in order to get a thorough understanding of the situation and its requirements, and to report on the efficacy o£ existing methods and what others, if any, should be adopted. SCOPE OF INQUIRY One very important question which could be investigated, under the heading of causation, was that of the community’s milk supply, and that very important factor, herd-testing. Expert opinion based on practical experience and investigation could also be brought to bear on the important question of surgical tuberculosis. Medical tuberculosis, being piore common, and infectious, naturally caused more concern. The surgical disease mainly affected children, and at the present time was treated mostly in the general hospitals. In view of the development of sun and splint treatments for this form of the disease the question whether the present treatment should be discontinued in favour of special treatment at seaside hospitals, would therefore present Itself. On this question, he said, some of the Auckland medical men were keenly Interested. The necessity of obtaining early treatment should be fully realised bv now, he added, but with this was also associated the possibilities and educational value of early treatment, particularly in the direction of showing patients how to treat themselves, and what was of paramount importance, how to prevent as much as possible the Infection of others. EXAMINATION OF IMMIGRANTS. Another interesting point was the question of suitable employment of cured cases, and whether heavy out-of-door work undertaken by people physically incapable of it, tended to neutralise the effect of the previous treatment. On this point the commission would be able to advise on the best form of employment, and in wha l manner it could be linked up with the work of sanitoria. Discussing the restriction of the disease the doctor also referred to the fact that a number of tubercular cases were advised by the English doctors to go overseas. "It seemed hard to deny such people admittance to the country, but the health of the community would have to be protected,” he •aid, "and for this reason the question of medical examination of immigrants would possibly come under the scope of the investigation. “Tliere are many such questions, and the scope of the inquiry would be very wide,” he concluded. Greater facilities for treatment and increased accommodation at the sanitoria was a crying need. That, they all knew, was largely a question 01 money, but before any satisfactory de velopment was undertaken, fuii and comprehensive information on the situation and its immediate requirements was absolutely essential.