TUBERCULOSIS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 108, 8 May 1909, Page 3

TUBERCULOSIS.

* NELSON TAKES ACTION. CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER'S REMARKS. Dr. J. M. Mason, Chief Health Officer, returned fiom Nelson yesterday. He met the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on Wednesday, and delivered an address on the treatment of persons suffering from tuberculosis, in so far as loc.il bodias are concerned. According to the Colonist report, Dr. Mason observed that the question was one which was worthy of the consideration of any board which took a more than passing interest in the welfare of those who came under its care. Like many other methods of treatment, tho so-called "open air j treatment of consumption" was urged by its authors sometimes in such lan-guage-as to lead the public to believe that in it was to be found a method by which, not only could all the afflicted bo cured, but that an effectual check could be made against the spread of the disease generally. Disappointment had bean occasioned sometimes, and doubts had arisen in the minds of those upon whom the charge of the sick had been cast, as to whether as much good had resulted as was expected, and the question raised was a very proper one for the board to ask, and worthy of tho n-ost careful consideration of all who had the best interests of the community at heart. THE DEATH ROLL. Nelson, he sa-id, was one of the first beards to do something to endeavour to check the ravages of tuberculosis, by •electing a suitable annexe for the treatment of persons suffering from the disease. " Here in New Zealand," the doctor continued, "although we have almost the lowest death-rate from this disease in the world, there died in 1907 from tuberculosis 856 persons. Now, if we multiply this number of deaths by four, which is held by most authorities to be the figure which gives the best indication as to the actual number suffering from the disease, you will see that ill this sparsely populated country, with barely one million of people, there ai'e, roughly speaking, 3400 suffering, from tuberculosis, and thercfoie needing care. There can be no doubt of the power of the enemy, and therefore boards such as ycurs are justified in spending money w combat it." CURABILITY OF THE DISEASE. Alter referring to the curability ot consumption, Dr. MaFon added that it did not follow that all cases could be cured. "To my mind," he added, "some — I would say a good deal— of the disappointment which some of us have suffeicd with regard to the sanatorium treatment of the disease has arisen thiough our not keeping this distinction clear in our minds." A POLICY OF PERSUASION. "We must gain the confidence of the man or woman 'who has nothing the matter with him or her,' Dr. Mason continued. Let us get them just when the 'little cough" starts, when the fir.# wasting begins, and we will soon see that our sanatoria and annexes with their full, free healthful life. 'will enable the sufferer who has taken but few steps on the downward path, to retrace them — will prevent such cases- from becoming serious and Fend the man or woman back to the world of work as well able to light the battle of life as he or she ever was. But to do this we must persuade the people to come to us as soon as they decide, or are informed they suffer from this disease. We must persuade them lo try our open air treatment, take advantage of your annexe and tire kindly treatment of your medical officer, before and not after they ha\e tried the various vaunted cure alls.' Suitable occupation, he urged, must be provided for patients if the best refulls were desired. "We must provide suitable employment for those who have been cured." he «aid. "The man who has been stiicken by this fell disease and who has recovered must forever live in the light of his frailty, and it is for us to secure him an oppoitunity whereby lie may again become a wage earning individual. This we can do by establishing labour colonies as the Government ha-s done at Karere, where expatients are employed in tree planting. This you can do by setting aside fruit, poultry, or bee farms, where the man or woman who desires to recover his individuality as a working unit in the economic world can take a place. The care, the cure and the destination of the consumptive is a work to which I have given many years of my life and I am as firmly convinced now as ever I was {hat sanatoria, annexes and working colonies are the most powerful factors wherewith to fight the 'Great White Plague.' " A RESOLUTION. After a vote of thanks had been passed to Dr. Mason, the board resolved: — "That it be a strong recommendation to the Minister for Public Health that the Government be asked to provide cenhfl institutions in which patients who have been discharged from consumptive sanatoria might be provided with employment, and that the board expresses its willingness to pay such sum as may be necessary to reimburse the Government any loss that may be incurred in maintaining patients sent by them to such institutions."