THE "WHITE PLAGUE"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10712, 3 October 1912, Page 6

THE "WHITE PLAGUE"

ACTION BY HOSPITAL HOARDS. I AN INTERESTING REPORT; I The following report of a Special Committee of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on the question of tuberculosis was approved by the Wairaraya Board at its meeting; yesterday:— "The Committee appointed hy the Board to inquire into the -whole question of the treatment of Consumption begs to report as follows: That in order to prevent disease, from attacking the healthy and predisposed : 1. The general public must be educated concerning facts pertaining to the communicability of Consumption. In order to carry this out the committee suggests:— (a) That popular literature on the subject of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of consumption be published by the Health Department, and that such literature bo distributed through local Ixidios and the dispensaries.

(l>) That notices of "Not to Spit" be posted up in trams, trains, and other public places, such notices giving the reasons why spitting is dangerous and that the Government and Local Bodies be asked to freely post such notices both in the English and Maori languages.

(c) That local anti-tuberculous societies comprised of women be formed with the object of educating the public, more especially the mothers of children. In order to prevent the disease from increasing the committee suggests the following: — " 1. That compulsory notifications bo insisted unon. By this means the Health authorities will be able to trace the source of infection, and so help and educate those who suffer and others who come in contact with tho disease. 2. That the Gow-mont be asked to make a more rigid inspection of emigrants prior to their departure from Home ports, as well as on landing in New Zealand.

In support of this suggestion-the Committee has placed before you statistics of the patients in

the Seddon Hospital. Thc^e statistics prove conclusively that many people land in New Zealand suffering from Consumption, and in ■many cases at an advanced stage of the disease.

(a) The total number of patients treated in the. Seddon Hospital sic its commencement is 2-1-2; 108 of these patients were born in New Zealand, and 134 were emigrants, 18 per cent of tho latter, or 10 per cent o~ the total number treated entered the hospital within 2 years of their arrival in. New Zealand.

(b) The above suggestion is reeo?vmended in order to minimise this evil as far as possible.

The Commit-too also roommo77.fi the building of one or more Convalescent Homos for children in the Colony to enable the weakly and predisposed to overcome their tendency and become healthy citizens. The Committee discui-.s-.ed the best methods of treatment of the early case of consumption and suggest the following : 1. That a dispensary be provided for the treatment of clu\st complaints, by this means suitable cases can be treated in their own homes. (Tin's has already been approved by the Board and will bo given effect to when the new out-patients block is completed.) ,- 2. That necessities such as drugs, sputum mugs, disinfectants and dressings should be given to those needin.;; them.

2. That, instead of a Health, inspector reporting on these cases, a certificated nurse ho appointed who siia 11 he taught the method*; of prevention of the disease and shall visit the homes of those suffering and give novice and reassurance as veil ?s practical help in, carrying out the treatment.

X.15. So far a.s our district is concerned this has ;ilso h.eon approved as part of the Dispensary scheme.

•I. That full statistics he kept at the dispensary of the circumstances, condition and progress of the patient.

;1. That when the home is not suitable then such patients must be drafted to sanatoria, in order to educate them ami give them a chance to i:et vol}. 0. That farm colonies should be in-

stituted by the Government wlie.ro/ trades <uieh as gardening, tree plant- j ing, poultry keeping and bee keep- £ ing are taught. These would afford' the incipient and recovering cases a chance to -work wader favourable open air conditions.

The Committee recommend: —■ ■. 1. That the chronic and late cases of cousurn-jtion must be sent, to suitabl'i modified f.anatoi'ia, or ir they remain in their own homos ther. the people in contact with them must thoroughly understand the nursing of such cases.

2. That the Government take mom

stringent measures re- consumption and other infections disease .amongst the. natives, and that the notification of all forms of tubercular disease be carried out more rigidly. 3. That legislation Ive passed by the Government to compel treatment and segregation of the refractory consumptive who will" not submit to ifrcattuont or Voluntary ;so?,f-diseip-line and is a source of great danger to the community.

."..ports niul memoranda submitted from time to time by the Medical Superintendent are appended to this report and K' vo J" greater detail reasons tor the concrete recommendations now brought clown by the Committee."