HOSPITAL CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1168, 1 July 1911, Page 6

HOSPITAL CONGRESS.

LABOURS CONCLUDED. ; SOME .PAPERS AND PROPOSALS. CONSUMPTION AGAIN. Methods'to bo followed in combating consumption were again discussed by the Hospital Conference when it resumed yesterday. Tho Kcv. W. L. Closs (North Canterbury) moved that tho plan of campaign set'out in tho last health report bo endorsed. Briefly, it was suggested in this report that to combat consumption there should do: - (1) Rigorous enforcement of notification by the medical profession of all forms of tubercular disease. (2) A wider circulation of literature as to the cause of the disease and its prevention. (3) Whole-hearted attempts to encourago the "early" case, and those who had been in contact with consumptives to seek treatment by means of (a) extension of the out-patient department of our general hospitals with a special branch devoted to tho diagnosis and treatment of chest complaints; (b) district nurses who would keep in touch with patients; (c) medical inspection of sciiool children. (4) Extension of sanatorium accomodation for thu educative treatment of suitable cases. (5) Provision by all hospital boards of suitable accommodation for chronio (G) Establishment of working sanatoria whete suitable patients could be taught outdoor occupations. (7) Co-operation between public and private philanthropic, agencies where-, by a nursing system could be developed. . ■ . (8) Co-operation of tho Agricultural Department iu matters relating to the - control of dairies and the supply and - distribution of milk.

Mr. Closs said that when the matter was previously discussed, tho conference got into a fog, and a colourless resolution onlv had been passed. He maintained that they would be failing in their trust if they went back without passing a more definite resolution. He moved the endorsement of tho plan of campaign. Mr. Maslin (South Canterbury) seconded tho motion pro forma, but contended that tho • previous resolution, though simple in form, was comprehensive in Mr. Horrcll (North Canterbury) took occasion to deny tho allegation made a couple of days ago ; by Mr. Maslin that the Cashmere Hills Sanatorium was a white elephant. Good work was being done there, and the -North Canterbury Board now proposed to erect an annexe at a cost of about for chronic cases. Dr.'Valintiuc. Inspector-General, indorsed the good work which was being done at the North Canterbury Sanatorium. In reference to administration .ho repeated his previously-expressed conclusions that the Hospital Boards could not get rid of their responsibility. Mr. P. M. Mackay (Auckland) maintained that if the fight was to be waged successfully they, would require provincial sanatoria. At,tho outset, perhaps a million of money would be required, but half a loaf was better than no bread. Mr. A. F. Hawke (Invercargill) considered it was very extraordinary that, n body of sensible men should havo spent hours' discussing this matter tho first day. and now they were back to the same subject. Tho motion was. after some further discussion, asreed to. It was decided upon the motion of Mr. Ewing (Dunodin)— "That, in the opinion of this conference, it is imperative that' the Government place such a sum upon the Estimates, and frame such regulations as will enable the Fnspir.il Boards of the Dominion to endeavour to effectually stamp out tuberculosis." Proposed Legislation. Mr. R. Mooro_,(North. .Canterbury) moved: That the Government arrange for the extension of borrowing powers for the purpose of erecting additional buildings, such power being at present restricted becauso boards are not local bodies. The proposal was objected to on tho ground that boards were ablo to. get all the capital required for their contributing bodies, for which they ■ wero really trustees. The extension of borrowing powers, it was urged, would be dangerous becauso it would mean creating hospital boards into a new rating authority. The motion was defeated. Mr. Ritchie (Wanganui) moved: That the law be altered so that country districts can elect representatives to the board so long as those elected are qualified .by residence in , any part of the hospital district. Ho said that the representative of a contributory district must now bo an elector of that particular district, which was a great hardship in wide scattered country areas. The object of ihe motion was to" permit an outlying district to appoint a town man as its representative. After considerable discussion the motion was carried. On behalf of Wellington Mr. R. C. Kirk moved: That tho services of tha assistants' in the hospital dispensaries in the four large centres be counted as a qualification for obtaining their certificates as chemists. Mr. Friedlander (Ashburlon) seconded tho motion. As an amendment Mr. Mackay (Auckland) moved that tho question be referred to the Pharmacy Board for consideration. Mr. Eager (Wairarapa) seconded the amendment, which was lost, tho motion being carried. Concluding Business. The chairman (Mr. J. G. Wilson) read a lengthy paper on "Tho Uses of Radium and Modern Hospital Appliances." He afterwards moved: "That it is desirable that a radium institute be established in somo suitable place in the Dominion for the treatment of cancer and kindred diseases." Mr. Mackay (Auckland) seconded. Dr. Hardwick-Smith said radium would be of'use at one Dominion Hospital for experimental purposes. As to hospitals in general,-many things were more badly wanted than ralium. Dri Valintino supported this view. If a radium institute were started in the Dominion, he remarked, it should bo located at Dunedin, tho homo of the medical school. The motion was carried. Mr. Mackay (Auckland) moved: "That'four skilled bacteriologists be appointed, one at each of tho four chief hospitals of tho Dominion." Dr. Valintino said the proposal was an excellent one. It followed naturally on the fact that the boards had assumed the functions of boards of public health. The .services of, bacteriologists wero required for the prevention as well as for the cure of disease. It was, in fact, essential that the' four chief hospitals should relain the services of bacteriologists. The motion was carried. Dr. Valintine stated'that several bacteriologists were at present retained by the Denartment. Mr. D. M'Laren (Wellington) asked leave to introduce a motion declaring it advisable that casualty wards should be established at the wharves of the four chief centres, by the boards concerned. Permission was refused. Mr. Walker moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the chairman fMr I. G. Wilson), remarking that the latter had "ruled with judgment throughout and with very great good temr.er. (Hear, hear.) The resolution, secontlcd by Mr. Mackay (AucWandl, w.is cordially endorsed hy a number of delegates, and carried by acclamation. . Mr. Wilson, in the course of a brief reply, voiced the gratitude of the con- • ferenco to tho medical and other Dcpart- ' mental officers who had assisted its de- ' liberations, and Dr. Valintino replied on ■ thnir behalf. . l This concluded tho business of the con- • ferenco. ' .

an outside district to tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board concerned, and in tho event of such notico not being forwarded within a month from dato of admittance, all liability on tho part of the board from whosa district the patient comes, ceasss."—Waipawa. "Tho adoption of some uniform policy between the several boards, in order to mrct cases of applicants from one district • applying to another for relief."—North Canterbury.

"Section T2 (1), Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909, provides for recovery of maintenance paid by a board on account of resident from another district. Provision should be made for recovery of maintenance paid on account of children born of parents whilst lvsident in such alien district, more particularly where such children are committed to an institution under tho Industrial* Schools Act."—South Canterbury. "That Section 72, with its subsections, of tho Hosnitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909, bo amended by the following additions, viz.:—To provide for the Inspector-General being appointed solo arbitrator in any dispute that may arise between any two boards in regard to liability for relief granted, his award to be binding on both boards; and that the Treasury, on receipt of award from tho Inspec-tor-General, if in favour of petitioning board, shall be authorised to pay such petitioning board tho amount stated in such award out of any sub-, sidy that may be due to the other board."—Otago. Mr. Friedlander (Ashburton) moved:—

"That power bo given to Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards to obtain •■ full information respecting moneys deposited by applicants for or recipients of charitable aid with' any bank, post office savings bank, or any other financial institution, and also power for such boards to lift such deposits for and on behalf of such recipients : of charitable aid." Mr. Scantlebury (Reefton) seconded. Mr. Friedlander stated that, in. his district, people in receipt of charitable aid had been discovered to possess bank accounts. Information as to theso assets had been absolutely denied by the banking institutions concerned. Even when the assistance of the police had been invoked only portions of lho money in tho bank had been recovered. Mr. J. W. MTJwan strongly opposed tho motion, contending that very lew people in New Zealand who did net need it applied for charitable aid. Tho proposal, however, was carried on the voices, Mr. M'Ewan voting alono in opposition. When the conference resumed in tho evening, the sub-committee appointed to consider the draft regulations and suggasted system of account-keeping presented its report. The committee recommended (1) that tho regulations bo approved, with certain amendments, and (2) that the suggested system of keening accounts be referred to a sub-committee, consisting of the secretaries of'tho Wellington, Auckland, North Canterbury, and Otago Boards, tho medical superintendents of the Wellington and Dunedin Hospitals, and tho chief clerk of the Department. The report was adopted, on the motion of Mr. London, chairman of the committee.