Treatment of Consumptives.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 96, 27 April 1904, Page 2

Treatment of Consumptives.

There was a good attendance of the public at the meeting held in the Town Hall last evening to confiidor the proposal to erect an annexe to the local hospital for the treatment of consumptives, His Worship the Mayor, who is alst) chpirm,ain of the Ttfrunaki j Hospital and Charitable Aid Aid Board, presided, and Introduced the subject. Dr. Leatham opened the way for Dr. Valintine, remarking on the excellent site for the proper building, and the present ditliculties in the way of the medical men in treat.ingi patients suffering from tuberculosis. He stated that in tile absence of a proper building he was subjecting patients to the open-air treatment by [Hitting them out on the hospital verandah to sleep, with benciicial results, lie instanced one case ol a local tradesman, who was very ill, and was put to sleep in the open air, TlvaU nifiibt the wind 'blew a «ale onrt the patient didn't get worse, and didn't (lie. Since then he had a little, girl patient sleeping on the verandah every night, and she was improving greatly. That very' day a consumptive patient had to be placed in a ward with a dozen other patients, and this always caused him to shudder, as that, ' consumptive patient had 110 business to be there. He remarked on the fact that the disease was curable, but laid stress on its coinmunicnihility. What was wanted hero was not a gireat sanatorium up on the Kuitalci ranges, but an annexe to the local hospital to treat our own patients. Dr. Valintine opened by saying '■' right here" that there was no suggestion to erect a sanatorium here for treatment of outside patients, but only those from the Taranaki Hospital district would be received. There was too much consumption in the colony considering the natural advantages. The death-rate could be much decreased. He felt that to eradicate consumption the public must help the profession. Last year 822 people had died from consumption in the colony, three times as many as from nil the other infectious diseases together. At the British medical Congress, where he read a paper, it was decided to ask the Mayors of towns to assist in the work of controlling this disease. Consumption was caused by organisms, of which 400,000,000 could be placed on a posture stamp. This bacillus was present in the stitum of tuberculous patients, milk from tuberculous cows, and in tuberculous meat. The organism would live for three hundred days away from the body and could easily be communicated to other people from a consumptive person. Of course, this disease was not as infectious as small pox or diptheria, but still it was infectious. In a school down south a doctor had found thirteen consumptive children, but the committee would not believe. Since then three of them had died. These children had all contracted the diseaso from one child suffering from tubercular trouble. Besides being a communicatfle disease it was known to be curaWe. In olden days a consumptive was considered as doomed to die, but now the medical profession could -guarantee relief, and except in the most advanced stages, a cure. It would be only a matter of time to prevent and eradicate the disease. There were now three thousand tuberculous patients in the colony, and in Taranaki, which had the lowest deathrate of the provincial districts, there were -two -deaths in every thousand people. It was impossible to treat the consumptive patients as those suffering from ordinary infectious diseases, because of its longi duration and the fact that the disease attacked people in their most useful time of life. Healthy living, plenty of fresh air, and absence of overcrowding wotdd fortify people against the tubercular bacillus. I)r. Valintine laid .gVentl stress on the fact that but for the Government sannitoi-ium there was no provision in the colony for consumptives, and there were only 35 beds in that institution whilst 92 applications had been made for them. The only organised institutions in Wellington which would take in these patients were the Homan Catholic and Salvation Army institutions. Mother Mary Joseph Aublert was a noble woman doing a noble work. Then, there was the Army. Some people always associated the Salvation Army with blare of trumpet and rattle of drum, but this body was doing a nojije work in our large towns (applause). There were proofs that these people who lived in the open air hu:d the smallest deathrate from tuberculosis. Fresh air was alike a preventative and a cure, ami then why should they not rent un annexe here for the sake of suffering humanity ? It was very necessary -to have these institutions close to town. The Cumbiridg-e suniatorium was most expensive, as it was eight miles from town and high 011 a hill. Then he Relieved that patients should bb near their friends, and another point in favour of placing the sanatorium near the town, was that men could be accommodated there and still work at their employment, supporting the families. 011 the condition, of icq-uirso, that) .the patients returned at ni-glht, followed the I open air -drill and disinfected the spitum. Another reason was tluit proximity to the town made it nn easy matter to entertain patients, it 'being recognised that mental condition had much to do with health. The speaker then referred to the educational value of these institutions—patients who returned from Cam'Liiridge knew the. value of fresh air. There were three plans for 1 the. erection of these, annexes or sanatoria. First by the Government ; second, bv the Hospital and Uhuritojblo Aid Hoard ;. or third l.y public subscription. The Governnient would, subsidise the cost £ for £, besides erecting one sanatorium in each island. He did not like the i-dea of striking a rate to raise the money, but would rather see the funds raised by public subscription. A shilling per head subscribed would remove the difficulty. Then if the l|uildi-ng- were erected bypublic subscription more interest will be taken in its maintenance. In answer to Mr Kerr, Dr. Valintine said the whole cost would bo covered by £SOO for an annexe for ten patients. ' Dr Leat-h-am pointed out that recently a cottage in the hospital grounds had been put 'in oixler. Jte thought Oris might be used as a home for the nurse of the consumptive ward, for the kitchen and the open-air dining-room. Other provision could be maide for the accommodation of the increasing' hospital staff. He felt sure that the matter of funds would not be a serious one. He lvud known many successful functions in aid of the local -hospital. There was already £.IOO in hand, *"d he thought £llOO could easily-be raised. One lady fun! promised him £25 toward the scheme.

Mr Koy sai'd that lie agreed that consumptive patients should be humanely treated, lint, disagreed with the public bring called oil to subscribe. Individually he respected the medical men, ■!mt. collectively he thought t'hey were rather inclined to run after these fads. Whv, unvhow, should they colled the consumptives here? lie thought il inadvisable to have this smmltorium here, and 'it was not in the interesls of the neighbours of tiie institution or in the interests of live town, lie asked the people not t„ |„. carried uwav by enthusiasm but to consider (lie ((Ueslioii thoroughly, with due regard to its many aspects', and'more particularly with regard to Hs pro bable effect on the town

Mr Kerr differed. As he understood 11, tile doctors wanted to pi-event the consumptive patients from mi.™,.with others. The seriousness of this matter had appealed to him, ami he thought something should be done ill the interests of local patients at the same time preventing the idea from gjitti'ng abroad u mt t . hi 9 W(ls consumptive snjin/bori'um. He had seen the effect of this on NasnWy a popular consumptive resort, whi-e * ol consumptives had. been

detrimental to the town ami ru-rtious to lousiness people.. He would not support any moasuro that would have the effect oi encouruiging consumptive patients from other parts of tile colony.; lie favoured «n annexe being ejected by 'this conuuuuity for local naticnts.

Mr. Samuel did not think Mr Kerr had been fuir to Air Itoy. Mr I toy's speech was u very logical one, and the meeting owed him thanks for his contri'blutiim to the thought of the meeting'. He felt bound to say that it had been a treat -to- listen to Dr. Vaiiii't'ine's remloirks. N'ot one present could ltaive failed to be moved by the touching incidents related by that gentleman, and as a result felt that they should erect this sanatorium without delay. But -they must pull themselves together uri-d calmly consider whether or not it was wise to uidopt the scheme. He believed thai, coinsumpl'i'Ves should be,treated at sanatoria where there would be .specialists, insUnal of ut hospitals where doctors had to attend as house suiigeons and in treatment all kinds of patients. Then proximity to the town would, he thought, not lie conducive to discipline, and to observance of those hygienic rules which were essential to the treatment of consumptives. lie considered New Plymouth !uruinate indeed i-ii possessing such medical men and wiicJ.i a hospital stall as were here now. lie knew that if the annexe were built there would be the same success here in treating tuberculosis «S met the efforts to treat other diseases. He was sure -that the puijlic would support the institution when estailiHshed, -but would point out that the more cures there were, and live more coinlV)rt-aL(le -it was made, the more tubercular patiems would be ultrmcled to _\ ow Plymouth. He was sat-islied that in Nciv Plymouth there would be most, successful treatment, and that would lead to doctors in other, parts sending consumptive patients here. Dealing with the financial question Air buiuucl said it was the duty of Parliament to so arrange the incidence 01 luxation as to make it press dually on people, or rather ho that the Healthy pay taxes 011 their wealth and no mean people f wero allowed- to scupe payment. If these anne** in various parts of the colony were put up by public subscription, or bv imposing increased rates,j the increased cost ol maintenance would be a chaige on the land, through the Ivos«h 1 /oa, ' (b •Wl local bodies.' That should not be so-the money shouW "me trom the consolidated rundt He believed that on the appeal oi t e doctors the wealthy would subscribe to allevi-ute misery and suffe.'img ; but should they V

Mr Kerr : Yes, X think so. Air Samuel was of ,a different opinion, .We, us colonists, should do nothing 'in the way of carrying out public works by private su'uscription, giving Parliament an opening to say 'tii'at there was no need to spend money in a district where the community would carry 'out works at thi! cost ol' its own people. Dr. Leatham moved that a committee bo set up to> oWtam information on the subject and, report at a future meeting, lir Wood seconded.

Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., quite agreed with Mr Samuel that the Government should take charge of hospitals and churi tabic aid institutions, -and maintain them out of the consolidated fund. He had seen a statement by Sir Joseph Ward that a saaia-torium would be erected in New I'lymouth. Dr. VoJimtino : I can say, sir, that there is absolutely no truth in that. ilr Smith then promised to assist Dr. Valimtine's scheme for tile erection of a sanatorium, but considered the mutter should have come from the Government. He favoured a conference of medical men to deckle 011 the site. Mr Dockrill agreed that the method of raising hospital funds was unequal in its effect. He appealed to those present to make an united effort to alleviate the sufferings of this terrible scourge which now scorned within rea'somilble distance of being eradicated.

Mr 11. Okey, ctoirman of th(; Taranaki County Council, opposed any 'big scheme for expenditure 011 sanatoria at the. expense of the ratepayers, bnt favoured action 'being taken to relieve indigent patients. He believed in raising these funds by pu>l>lic subscription, as-if tlmi were done the ratepayers would not mind a little extra tuxutron for maintenance. Ilut would this institution act in opposition to the Government's scheme of erecting sanatoria throuHiout the colony Dr. Valintine replied. lie wished nil would see this matter through tile same eyes as iie did. In answer to Mr Itoy, he migjlvt say that ine.lns coul-tl be taken to prevent patients coming hero from other parts. At any rule there would be 4-1 annexes, one in each hospital dittrict. That 'disposed oi that objection. Mr Itoy : No, 110.

Dr. Valintine said that New Plymouth would never attract patients. Taranaki would never be a health resort. Keg'arding Naseby, the facts related -by Mr Kerr were of many years ago, before consumption wus 'recognised as an infectious -disease, and before steps wore taken to prevent its dissemination. Answering Mr Samuel, Dr. Valintine related tome pathetic inci-di-nta th-at enme under his notice. Jle knew Unit (he publjc au<l ilscri p Won fell uno ( Q ually, but this was tire only means oi'preventing delu3 r . To get the Government to undertake this work would take months owing to red tape restrictions. ihi expressed his gruritmio to I'r. LeaUutm ami other mom'bvrs of tilt. l (ii'oiession wjio agrec-a with him in this matter und had given him every assistance. He could endorse the statements of the excellent work done by Dr. Leatham and other doctors in the New Plymouth hospital. He had been there as a surgeon and us a patient. He had seen hospitals all over the colony and he tad yet to find a hospital on a better site, or a better conducted institution.

The motion was carried unanimously. The following committee was appointed Messrs O. Samuel, J. U. Hoy, S. Teed, J. Pigolt, 11. Okey m'ti?/ o yl i US ' W - T - "Jennings, M.H.li., b>. Shaw, C. K. Bellrimger, Aiiisw'ort-h, Am'bUry, Gilbert, Carrtaglton, J C. George, E. M. Smith, M.H.K. Kerr, Wood, MacDiarmid, Pocknll, his Worship file Mavor, Kev C. fe. Osborne, ltev. Kvuns and all the members of the medical profession 111 New Plymouth. j\fr 0 M Lopper wili act an secretary. Dr. McClel-ond stated his hearty accordance with the project. Hearty votes of -thanks to Dr Valuit.ne and the other medical gvntle!hn\i 01 lht '! r a ' Uumton ™, and to the X!° f l"' l ' Bi<l ' ln e, I concluded