TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11875, 23 April 1904, Page 8

TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION.

I ♦ THE OPEN-AIR CURE. SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH. A large party assembled at 'Avon Pine Sanatorium yesterday afternoon, at tha invitation of Dr. and Mrs Greenwood, to be present at the formal opening ceremony, which Sir J. G. Ward had consented to perform. Lady Ward and Mr B. Wilson (private secretary) accompanied the Minister, and there were also present:—Mrs W. S Bean, the Mayor of Christehurch (Mr C. M. Gray), the Mayor of Sumner (Mr W. Rollitt)* the Mayor of New Brighton (Mr C. H. Winny)', Mr T. H. Davey, M.H.R., and Mrs Davey, several members of the City Council and Hospital Board, the Rev. Fathers O'Oonnell and Richards, and many others. Professor Bickerton and. Dr. Greenwood received the visitors, who inspected the cosily situated and interesting little houses set apart for the open-air treatment for consumptives, the completeness of the arrangements coming quite as a revelation to the visitors. Afternoon tea was provided. The Mayor briefly introduced the Minister fur Health, who was received with applause. Sir Joseph Ward said he had come out to the Avon Pine Sanatorium with a gieat deal of pleasure. It was a duty to re-iiev* the afflicted portion of the community as fur as lay in our power, and it was most gratifying to find people working on such humanitarian lines. It had been held by some that the treatment of consumptives should be a charge on the consolidated fund, but while the Government was taking measures to provide sanatoria, there was ample room for private institutions such as this, and for a good many of them. In spite of the excellent climate, many people in this land suffered from tuberculosis, and sad havoc was wrought by this dire disease. During the war in South Africa some tinrty thousand men fell fighting, or "died of disease. But ia one year alone in England and Wales 70,000 poor sufferers passed away, victims to consumption. This showed how necessary it was in a country like this to do all we could to cope with the disease. If the disease was taken in its early stages, and the open-air system was applied, many sufferers could be restored to complete health. They were much indebted to Dr. Greenwood, and Dr. .Stephenson, of Dunedin, and others, for such sanatoria, and ho looked upon euch places as this and Te Wuikato not only as places where people might be cured, but as centres from which the gospel of fresh air and clean lives might be sent forth. Such institutions as these could work well side by side with those of the Government. He was firmly convinced that Hercules's advice to the waggoner was good counsel in this case, and the people must put their shoulders to the wheel and not rely too much on the State. There was frequently not that enthusiasm round a State institution that there was round a private one. An amendment was made last session to the Public Health Act, having for its object the erecting of annexes for the treatment of consumption. These were gradually being put up, and already very good results had been obtained at Otaki, where quite recently two sufferers so improved that in very little time one put on in weight, arid one nearly a. stone. He hoped to goo such additions put up all over the colony, but nothing that the Government or the Hospital Boards might arrange for would, he was convinced, in any way militate against the usefulness or well-being of institutions such as they were now celebrating the vfficial opening of. There therefore need be no fear on the part, of owners of private hospitals, such as this, that the Government would interfere -with them. With an institution so magnificently situated, and with the energy Dr. Greenwood was displaying in its management, good results must follow, and it might do much to remove the awful Juggernaut from the midst of the people in these parts. Dr. J. M. Mason, the Chief.Health Officer, would soon go right through the colony, and deliver addressee on the treatment <"f consumption. What was required was that the people should be educated on the question. Often a member of a family was kept afc home and cared for till it was too late, and the institutions" provided for the proper open-air treatment of the disease, ought to bo taken advantage of. Dr. Mason would visit the Chatham Islands in a few daye, with the Native Health Officer, and it was intended to jjToint a medical officer there, instead of a lay magistrate, as in the past. Work of the character now being undertaken here was necessary in the most remote places in New Zealand, and the colony as a whole would not grudge large contributions to such work as Dr. Greenwood's, whose noble -work he joined with them in wishinjr every potsible success. (Applairs'e.) D:. Mason, who was called upon by Sir Joseph Ward to speak, said he had for many years taken a very great interest in what he believed to be the greatest menace of the race, viz., consumption. Three times as many deaths each year in England and Wales as in a three years' war was a* fearful total. It had been, until lately, almost the custom to look upon consumption as an expression of the wrath of tfre Almighty on the individual, but it was now known to be an absolutely proventible disease. If the simple and natural means he advocated and proposed, were adopted, there would, in three generations, be absolutely no consumption in this colony, but what might be imported from outside from time to time. If the law were strictly carried out against miscellaneous expectoration in our streets, and people affected by chest or throat troubles would tako the trouble to destroy the sputum cast out; with open-air treatment and its cleaner life the disease could be swept away. In the open-air sanatoria people would not only find health, but greatest benefit to others would result in the kjeone learnt, and they would return as the apostles of fresh air and cleanliness of life. They would also learn that they must go back as near as possible to Nature's ; mode of living. (Applause.) The Mayor called for cheers for Sir I Joseph Ward and Lady Ward, which were I given heartily. On Sir Joseph's motion, cheers were also given for Dr. and Mrs Greenwood and the Mayor, anil the'party left the institution to visit the free openair Hospital on, the New 'Brighton road, at the invitation of Sister Sybil Maude. Mr T. H. Davey, M.H.R., introduced Sister Maude, and explained that the Hospital had been erected by her efforts for the free treatment of working men, who were sufferers from consumption. It was J doing very much good, but funds were needed. The present land was under offer for the low ieum of £255, and it was thought the country might help in some degree to raise the money necessary. Mr Baldwin said the Working Ilea's Club had started the Hospital far the benefit of working men, and he did not ! see why the working men should not run the finances of it. It was a great saving i to the country, and deserved every consideration. More tents were wanted, and other things besides the money to purchase the land. I Tl«s Minister said he had listened to the statements made with a great deal of interest. It was a bright side of nature to find a lady undertaking rtica a laudable work, and she was deserving of assistance in her effort from all people. He felt that Miss Maude deserved to b» helped, and if, after looking into tb-3- question and consulting his colleaguc-e, a pound for pound subsidy could be granted, lie would try to give such help in the direction of making the place a success. It i c'very class to look at thtee things in a I practical way, and that the combat with

tuberculosis was a great work was recog- J nised by men of all shades of opinion. TiK'y unould ah reutler wual a.-..i.«i»c«: they could. (Applause.) Sir Joseph then ask«d to shake hands with two workers who had given several days' toil to ltelp to repair the place, aud called for cheers tor Miss Maudv. which were given with vigour. The pnity inspected the tents aud went over the property, afterwards returning to town. *