HOSPITAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 3, 28 June 1911, Page 5

HOSPITAL CONFERENCE

11EDTCAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS. By Ttlagraph.—-Pr»»s AssociatiM Wellington, Yesterday. At the Conference of Hospitals and tnaritable Aid Boards, which opened to-day. the question of medical inspection of whool children was referred to by the Hon. Geo. Fowld.s in his address. Although the necessity for such an inspection was not, the Minister said, so acute as in the Old I I.and, reports of medical oflieers showed that some 30 per cent, of the children attending the State schools needed some form or other of medical attendance, if advantage was taken of the existing machinery. legislative and otherwise, the medical inspection of • school children could be put into operation for some £lii,0()0. That would mean that half, that sum would come out of the ratepayers' pockets. Against this, however, must be set the expenditure saved in preventing disease. It was. however, only a question of pounds, shillings and pence. Their duty was clear. A scheme that must make for «, physically efficient community must sooner or later be taken in hand. Details of the proposed scheme would be outlined later by the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals. DISTRICT XURSIXC, SCHEME. Inferring to the district nursing scheme, Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, said that so far the scheme had been a great .success, and an extension of the scheme might be confidently looked for during the next few years, of maternity nurses especially. In the far north there was a great dearth, and encouragement must be given to women to take up this work in country districts. I 'NDESJRA BLE CITIZENS. Another subject requiring attention was the treatment of undesirable citizens. There was no doubt, he added, that the path of the wastrel was made far too easy, and they should not allow mawkish sentimentality to prevent them from doing their duty by those outcasts and pariahs. They had no hesitation in confining in a hospital a person suffering from an infectious disease, and why should they 1)« reluctant to inete out similar treatment to the vicious and intemperate and to the deserting father, and, if necessary, make tfiem work for the support of their families. Until cooperation was brought about between public and private charitablo organisations very little could be done.