H.—Bl

40

At the request of Dr. Finch, I accompanied the Committee for the Christchurch Sanatorium in the search for a suitable site. Several places were visited, and an excellent situation found. Preliminary plans have been submitted by Mr. Seager, and these are now under consideration by the Committee. The limited area of level ground presents a problem in the laying-out of the institution, but doubtless in such able hands this difficulty will not be insurmountable. Assistance has been given to two applicants in designing shelters for private treatment by the openair method. The question of dealing with indigent cases who have improved under sanatorium treatment, but who will require years of open-air life to complete the cure, still remains to be dealt with. I need not go into the difficulty of disposing of such cases as come out of the Cambridge Sanatorium, since you dealt with the matter fully in last year's report. Without some provision for these, the whole of our work against tuberculosis remains but half done. Admission of Patients to Cambridge Sanatorium. The following table shows the number of patients applying for admission to Cambridge, and the manner in which they were disposed of : —

Table VII. —Total Applications dealt with during Year 1905-6.

It will be seen that the number placed on the register (119) is almost exactly the same as last year (118), but the number admitted (142) is fifty in excess of last year ; therefore we have the gratifying result that during the past twelve months there has not been a great accumulation of applicants awaiting admission, and on the 31st March only one remained. We still have a very large number of applications from cases which are too far advanced to hope for cure. The importance of early treatment does not yet seem fully appreciated. A. considerable number of doubtful cases have to be sent up, as it is impossible at certain stages to foretell whether they may improve under treatment, the only solution being to give them a few weeks' trial. This of course often leads to disappointment, but it is on the whole better to afford them the chance at least of seeing what the open-air treatment may do. The problem of providing for the rejected ones remains as acute as before. We have constantly before us incurable indigents, and no place to send them. The work of the Nursing Guild in treating many such cases is worthy of the hignest praise. During this year it was found advisable to leave in the Medical Superintendent's hands the actual admission of the patients ; we now send him the names on the list, and he arranges when they are to go in. This system has resulted in an avoidance of delay and confusion. The number of patients presenting themselves for medical examination at this office during the year was thirty-six. Licensing of Private Hospitals. The following is a record of the work done in regard to private hospitals during the year : New licenses issued. 56 ; licenses renewed, 48 ; licenses refused, 4 ; licenses withheld pending repairs and alterations, 15. Beyond an annual inspection of the sanitary condition of these houses it cannot be said that we are exercising much supervision of the conduct of private hospitals. It is very evident that as regards the internal management, only a medical man is competent to offer an opinion, and it is quite out of the question for the District Health Officer to find the time to inspect the nursing-homes even in the larger centres. Habitations. The following list refers to the buildings condemned as unfit for habitation, or as being dangerous to public health. The figures do not refer only to habitable houses, but include stables and stores which have fallen into disrepair : Wellington City, 18; Wanganui Borough, 18; Petone Borough, 4; Hutt County, 1 ; Manawatu County, 1 ; Picton Borough, 1 : total, 43. The following have been allowed to remain after extensive repairs have been effected, or on condition that they shall be used as store-sheds, &c, but not as habitable houses : Wellington, 7 ; Feilding, 1 ; Petone, 1 : total, 9. These figures show a falling-off in the returns for last year, especially in Wellington City, chiefly attributable, I presume, to the fact that the worst of the habitations have been eliminated. A certain number remain, the condemnation of which has been suspended to enable leases to lapse or to suit the business arrangements of the owners or occupiers, since, unless the matter be very urgent, it is

(M. 119 + F. 65.) Applicants on register, 1st April, 1905 : New applications received during year 1905-6 : 25 159 (M. 15 + F. 10.) (M. 104 + F. 55.) Applicants placed on register during year 1905-6: Applications deferred, withdrawn, &c. : 1 1Q 40 (M. 72 + F. 47.) dmitted to sanatorium Awaiting admission, during year : 31st March, 1906: 143 I 1 (M. 82+F. H.) (M. 85 + F. 58.) (M. 0 + F. 1.)