FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 17 July 1922, Page 4

FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.

The discussion at the Hospital Board Conference in Wellington on Friday produced a valuable suggestion from Otago ■■ for a combined effort by boards through* I out New Zealand to provide treatment j for consumptives, and furnished fresh ; proof that the country lacks a properly! organised comprehensive plan of cam-, paigu against the disease. Some districts have done more than others —j Canterbury, for example. One result is' iluil patients go to Chrietcliurch from J olher districts, which is hardly fair to j Canterbury. The total accommodation | in the Dominion is apparently far from] siiflicicnt, and. as we have already! pointed out there is no systematic j organisation for the after-care of| I patients or for tiic maintenance of their families. Tlie proposal that hospital; boards should combine to furnish accom-| nii-dntion seeuis to lmvc much to com-! mend it: indeed the Director-General of. Health described it as "the only means j nl" having a satisfactory national cam-j liaign against consumption." For one | thing it would throw responsibility mi; tiic districts, under the general super-! \ ; -'<.ii of the Health Department, and j niivtliing that operates against centra- j lisatioti in such matters is welcome. We I milicc ihn: Dr. Ynlintine says that "he, liinl never luul the courage to reeom- I mend the Auckluml board to establish a | sanatorium in Auckland, for be was not j disposed to regard tbe climate nf Auck- . I land ns suitable for such a purpose." The 'climate of Auckland an I iN environs: nnisl -irikc most Wvmcii :<s too moist, j for ihe treatment of cunsiiii-nlioii. but : there arc plenty of climatically suitable ; sites in tlio high country in other parts t-.f tin- province Sanatoria should be I placed in the most suitable spots, regard- | less of other considerations, and com- j 1-ineil action by hospital boards will | enable this to lie done. j ! I