THE FEVER HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 210, 13 April 1877, Page 11

THE FEVER HOSPITAL.

<-+ The meeting held at the Temperance Hall on Tuesday evening last, for the purpose of discussing the Fever Hospital, was unanimous in advocating the continuance of such an institution in Dunedin ; the sole point of difference being as to the fitting site. For our own part, we have never seen the force of the objection against the building occupying- that portion of the Town Belt where it now stands. The situation is all that can possibly be desired, and the locality is out of the way, and, even prior to the erection of the hospital, was but little frequented by persons in search of recreation. There can be no doubt but that in every civilised community, provision should be made for the isolation of, and proper attendance tipon infectious diseases. Extreme measures, however, or any appearance of such should be avoided. It was, for instance, extremely impiudent to allow a belief to spread abroad that children attacked by fever would be forcibly removed from their parents' houses, ami we have no doubt whatever, that much evil has been the consequence of | such a report. Apart from all questions of attendance during i illness, there are people who would prefer to see their children dead, rather than know that, in all probability, they were running about unwatched during convalescence, in company with a band of unkempt larrikins ; and such folk would submit to anything, and run any danger, before they would call in a doctor to pass the sentence they so much dreaded. Many other considerations also militated against the matter, for, notwithstanding all arguments and plausible paragraphs and windy locutions, the fathers and mothers of the present day are not Spartans, nor is it desirable that they should become so. An hospital for infectious diseases, of which persons who desire it may avail themselves, is an absolute necessity. Let us have such an institution then, but such an institution properly managed ; for, let doctors differ as they will, the idea of leaving a number of sick children untended during the night is simply barbarous ; and, however medical opinion may decide as to its safety, those who have had practical experience in attending to the needs of the class of sufforers alluded to, know very well that to carry them here and there in the height of their illness, however expedient it may other- \ wise be, is the extreme of cruelty.