HELP FOR CONSUMPTIVES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14507, 8 November 1912, Page 6

HELP FOR CONSUMPTIVES.

TO TJtE KDITOr. OF "Tire r»t3S."

Sir,—l notico that tho Chief Health Officer in his report on tuberculosis says:—"lt is to bo hoped that during the ensuing year Hospital Boards and other public and- private bodies will initiate a moro rigorous campaign against this disease."

The Cashmero Sanatorium is doing splendid work under tho able guidance of Dr. Blackmore;, 'tho dispensary, under Nurse Jenkins's kindly core, is fighting tho dread disease day by day and hour by hour; presently wo shall havo a large institution for tho very advanced cases—-but alas! the tragic tact remains teat thero aro still in our midst many cases not yet eiiecuvoly aud adequately treated. 1 mil told on absolutely the best authority that thero aro in ChristchurcJi and 1 its suburbs about twenty such cases among tho poor. Somo or them aro children. May I briefly toll their littlo stories, and $o'rouse tne pity and win th© help of compassionate souls." 1 A littlo boy "of eleven, in a family of four children; father has been ill and unable to earn much. The little fellow needs more nourishing food and a small tent to sleep in. No money to -pare tor those things which alono can fcave his life. , A lad of sixteen, eldest vtvo.vo children; father a general labourer, steady, but getting on in years. ' . A young girl ot' seventeen, ordered away from her trado uy her doctor as her only chanco of life. Tho mother goes to work; family very poor; nourishing food and a tent required. A boy of twelve; son of a hard-work-ing man. His case is not far gone, but the child needs extra food aad out-of-door tent.

Thoro is no room at present in tho Sanatorium for thoso young people, struck down as they aro at tho very dooi* of <ife.

No doubt tho Board will look into the whole subject at its next meeting, and probably provide measures for dealing with the twenty and more cases now •under observation, but in the meantimo immediate action is required—no precious lives must bo lost.

I appeal to some of our ricli and comfortuolo peoplo to give'of their charity. Money is flowing m from every direction for amusements and luxuries—-can a littlo of it bo turned into the channels of compassion and loving kindness? I ask thoso who havo faced sorrow and pain and loss among their own littlo ones to help to bring comfort and hopo to suffering poor. I ask thoso who,' by means of wealth, havo been ablo to snatch their children from a cruel death to spare a littlo to eavo tho beloved children of thoso less fortunato on life's rath.

Will you, sir, kitdly allow such moneys to bo received at your office, to bo dealt with by responsible persons in tho manner they think best? —Yours, etc..

E. W. CUNNINGTON. 38 road.