TUBERCULOSIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1932, Page 3

TUBERCULOSIS.

EXTENSION OF TREATMENT. PROVISION AT INFIRMARY. BOARD TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS. "What we are asked to do is to establish a sanatorium," said Dr. E. B. Gunson at a meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday afternoon, when resolutions arising out of a recent conference between the Hospital Board representatives and' the hospital advisory committee were being discussed. The conference was held to discuss a report on pulmonary tuberculosis, prepared by Dr. Cliisholm McDowell, the board's tuberculosis officer at the Auckland Infirmary. Considerable extension of the work of treating tuberculosis was suggested in resolutions which the conference drafted for consideration by the board.

It was stated that the work at the pulmonary tuberculosis dispensary embraced diagnosis and supervision. It was vitally important that an early diagnosis should be made and it was recommended that all medical practitioners in the district served should be circularised, and informed that specialist opinion was provided there, free of cost, for patients unable to afford private consultation.

Extra Doctor Proposed. Careful supervision should be made of cases discharged from hospitals, the shelters and sanatoria, and to that end medical practitioners, district nurses, and public health officers should be encouraged to send Cases under their care to the dispensary for regular examination. Such provision was very necessary for the successful treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The care and treatment of in-patients at the shelters would be improved by a appointment of a resident medical officer, who had completed two years' service at the Auckland Hospital. A salary of £250, plus board and residence, was recommended. Such an officer would relieve Dr. McDowell of a good deal of routine work and would always be at hand to carry out his instructions for the care of the patients, and he would also be able to act as an assistant to the medical superintendent, so that the whole infirmary would benefit. Should the work increase to any appreciable extent it might be advisable to consider the appointment of a honorary physician.

The appointment of an assistant to Mr. Hardie Neil in, the ear, nose and throat department was recommended. It was stated that a number of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis developed throat trouble of a like character, and it was necessary for the patients to have the advice of a suitable consultant. There was more work of this character than could be done by Mr. Hardie Neil, and Mr. Graeme Talbot was considered eminently suitable for the post. Danger of Infection. Regarding pulmonary tuberculosis in the main hospital the report emphasised that these cases were highly infectious. At present they occupied beds in general medical wards and were an undoubted source of danger to the other patients. They should be assembled in some special part of the hospital and nursed separately.

The necessity for the isolation of all types of infectious cases, as erysipelas, enteric fever, puerperal septicaemia and dysentery was also stressed. The report also drew attention to the fact that the total number of artificial pneumo thorax cases was constantly increasing. They commenced treatment at the hospital and continued as out-patients, the course approximately consisting of a refill every few weeks for a period of many months. Dr. McDowell had commended a clinic on Saturday afternoons to attend to these cases and as time went on lie would require assistance, and the proposed resident infirmary officer would be suitable.

In conclusion high appreciation of the work of Dr. McDowell was expressed, and it was recommended that he be appointed tu'berculosis officer to the Auckland Hospital Board and that his renuineration be increased 1 to an amount between £400 and £500.

Increase in Expenditure. Members commented that the recommendations meant a considerable increase in expenditure. Mr. E. H. Potter stated that they would entail the addition of another storey to the infirmary block to give full effect to them.

Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., stressed the fact that now that the board had the services, of a specialist at the infirmary efficiency should not be sacrificed, and the chairman agreed that the expenditure should not be allowed to stand in the way of an extension of the work. The matter was referred to the finance and infirmary committees to report to a special meeting of the board.