A CASE IN POINT..

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9023, 9 January 1908, Page 4

A CASE IN POINT..

The appointment of Dr. W.. Butement to the staff of the honorary surgeons of the Dunedin Hospital, calls to mind various incidents in connection with the past and present history of the Maaterton Hospital From what we can gather the Trustees of the Ma3terton Hospital would do well to study closely the system that is in vogue in Dunedin. In the ''Scotch City" there are three hospital surgeons, whose services are entirely of an honorary character. Each member of the staff has bis receiving days in the week, and attends to the cases which he admits. Of course,, other doctors than those comprising the- honorary, staff send! patients to the hospital. Dunedin, it may bp remarked, is "the home of the medical profession," for it is. the only city in the dominion where degrees in medicine may be obtained. A system that is workable amongst the Dunedin; doctors ought to be worth trying in the eaaa oi the Maaterton Hospital. ,

New Zealand: is not the- mnly State into which consumptives are admitted despite serious- danger- to tha whale community. A prominent Sydney medical man expresses indignation at the' continued impoutation of consumptives into New Wales. He writes,::—"Aa long as these people have sufficient means to show that they are not likely to become a charge upon the: community, theire is no law to prevent their admission ; but it is a scandal that they are allowed to come here-and mix indiscriminately with the population. With our present limited knowledge- of phthisis, the authorities should display a little solicitude for the welfare, or at least the safety of the public. I am speaking from personal observation. Many consumptives are being- brought to this country.. Some of them are almost at death's door before they land. Each patient living with the people establishes a new centre of infection and nullifies any combative efforts made locally. The law should be amended forthwith.'-'