BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 11674, 5 February 1902, Page 4

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

NEW ZEALAND BRANCH. The Congress met at 11.15 to-day, the attendance being principally confined to the visiting medical men. SANATORIA FOR CONSUMPTIVES. Dr Ogston opened the business of the day by reading a paper upon ' Sanatoria Consumptives.' He said they had to consider what they wished a sanatorium for consumptives to be. There are two idea* comprised in the term sanatorium: First, a place to which sick people are removed with a view to their amelioration or cure; second', a place where sick persons so far advanced in an infectious malady that their cure is utterly hopeless are taken for the purpose of isolating them and preventing the spread of the disease to healthy persons, allowing the practically moribund to end their days in comfort. The question, whi m of these objects is to be the prominent one, whether we are to combine both ideas, or if we are to keep them separate, seems to be an important element in our deliberations. If, for instance, we contemplate founding an institution where the possibly curable are to be mixed up with the incurable cases, then we expose our lightlv, or even only probably infected patients to the company of those deeply involved, in whom we may perhaps assume that the tubercle bacillus is in a condition of viru lent culture. Thus we may expose the former to greater risks than they would run oven in moderately unhealthy homes ana surroundings. If, however, we intend to place the possibly curable in such situations that the chances of amelioration or even cure are increased, then we have to aim at getting the most favorable climatic and other circumstances, regardless of sentimental considerations. We have to seek as an essential element in our. sanatoria for curable cases such places as combine with a favorable climate, etc, possibilities of exercise and amusement. Our American friends have long since realised this. For many years before the European furore for the open-air treatment had arisen they had provided all or most of its essentials in the salubrious climate of Colorado, .Ne.v Mexico, etc., wherein, amid beautiful surroundings, among pine woods or on their mountain tops, in hotels like palaces or log huts through which the air blew freely, consumptives were under treatment, changing easily and comfortably from heat to cold relaxing to bracing climates, as their circumstances required; but everywhe-> with plenty of food, well-cooked, and of the best quality obtainable; while the mini was not neglected, for books, newspapers etc., were provided fully and freely, and out-door exercises were not neglected, hut encouraged. It is by moderate and graduated exercises that the body generally is strengthened and placed in a condition to throw off the disease, more certainly than by overfeeding and exposure to currents o. air, especially without due preparation For the curable class of patients, then, T et us seek a place, not too far removed from our towns, but with shelter from the cold easterly winds, moisture-laden and penetrating as they generally are, and from the cold, damp air which may sweep down from high hills, ice-covered more or less aj the year round. Not too near the mountains, but well protected by the lower hills. Let the soil be gravelly and porous, not clayey and retentive, permitting the rain or ov _n snow to soak through it as it falls, not lie and freeze on its surface. Let it perhaps have a rapid-flowing river near, but not too near it, through the shingly banks of whijh the natural drainage may penetrate and be easily carried away, the house being placed on a shingle bank high enough above the river that the mists of early morning which may be formed in the bed of and lie on the river mav not reach tho house. If, how«ver, in the second place, we wish to have a home where a sort of euthanasia may take is, where the hopelessly siet may be sent to die under the most comfort able circumstances to themselves and with the greatest possible safety to their neighbors—then we have to provide an entirfly different sort of sanatorium. This mus: have, above all things, a sedative climate, with a soothing atmosphere, plenty of sun thine, shelter from the heat of the midday sun, dry subsoil, and quickdrying soil, capable of being easuy drained, but without the. possibility of the drainage being carried to the surrounding country, and so on. It must be essentially away from towns and inhabited neighborhoods, but with sufficiently easv access by good roads or rivers. Jt must permit of patients, perhaps in a condition of extreme weakness being transported to it, without unduly taxing their vital powers, for we may be "called at any time to remove a person far gone in consumption from a house too small to permit of the proper isolation of the sick from the healthy as a necessary step to the preservation of many members of a family ; and we must be able to do so without at least materially deteriorating his condition. Public opinion, which we must ever take with us in sanitary work, would otherwise be against us. Ho expressed no opinion as to the suitability or unsuitability of any particular locality. That he leaves to the members of the Association, trusting that each would add to his knowledge of the potential sanatoria in New Zealand by his local experience. Our report of the discussion is held over.