TWO YEARS IN BED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1934, Page 9

TWO YEARS IN BED.

FARMER REGAINS HEALTH. TREATMENT AT ROTORUA. "Well, good-bye, you pimps. Going back to the cows," said "Tommy.' one of the most popular patients of the Government Sanatorium at Rotorua, as he.left for his farm in Taranaki Province last week, after having spent about seven months under treatment. The story of "Tommy's" recovery after nearly two years upon his back reads almost like a fairy tale (savs a "Star" correspondent). A dairy farmer in Taranaki, and the father of seven children, lie met with a slight accident as the result of • which he lias not worked for two years. In a public hospital he was treated for spinal trouble, and was placed in a plaster cast. Then ho was diagnosed as a T.B. case, and was put out-of-doors at the institution. Last winter a friend advised that he be moved to the Government Sanatorium at Rotorua. The medical superintendent of the hospital, when consulted, was against this, for he said "Tommy" would never be able to walk again. Towards the end, of the winter the patient was sent to his home, stil in his plaster cast. His friend and tlu local doctor persisting, in August he was sent to Rotorua. He travelled ii a sleeper to Frankton Junction, whene; ho was moved in his stretcher to han< from the ceiling of the guard's van fo the trip to Rotorua. Almost from liis-arrival in Rotorua hi commenced to improve. For tlie pre vious three months he had taken littli more than barley water, but it wa not long before "ho was eating mor solid food, gild later he joined the otho patients in the dining room. Undo treatment proscribed by the Govcit mcnt balneologist—massage baths an pack —and 111 the skilled hands of tli Government masseurs, he speedily in proved, and within five months wa walking again. It was not long befor he was pushing his less fortunat patients in their chairs round the Go\ eminent grounds. Upon the advice of the docto: "Tommy" is to get back to regular en ployment as quickly as possible, t keep himself fit and his mind occupier And he needed' no encouragement t return to his wife and young family j breadwinner, after so long a period o. enforced idleness. There must be many cases similar t that of "Tommy's," patients who won! have a chance cou» they get tlie sam treatment, but are in cliairs, o crutches,, or using walking sticks.