CURE OF CONSUMPTION

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 8

CURE OF CONSUMPTION

* ■ SUN TREATMENT WONDERFUL.

A PHYSICAL REBIRTH. CHRISTCHURCH DOCTOR’S PROPHECY. DOMINION FREE IN TEN YEARS. [Special to the * Stae.'] CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. In view of the discussion, which '.is followed on tho outspoken comment m.i< o recently by Dr Blackmon-e, superintendent or Cashmere Coimumpi.ioix Sanatorium, re-n-ardinc tho delay m proceeding with too erection of the Children's Open-air Hormg and generally regarding the msuflicitn y of Dio existing methods for coping with tuberculosis in the dominion tbo observations and experiences of a Chnstchiuih medical man who has returned a ter a visit to the United Kingdom and Einopffi during which 3m investigated the methods in use to cope with tuberculosis, should lie both valuable and interesting to the layman, and no less to the physician. _ ‘Tho results obtained from tho sun cure as applied to tuberculosis are truly marvellous, and border on tho miraculous. A ‘Press’ reporter was shown, m Dr pRoHaor’a work, ‘The Sim Cure, pholocraphs contrasting the _ condition m patienta (many of Dm subjects wore c.lu-1-dren) on their admission to the sun hospital and their condition nfc the cud of various periods oi; ironimenb. In a.mostovoiy instance the patient, at the end oi. the period of treatment, was hardly mentifiaHo with tho emaciated, ostlers. rilrnod.lifeless piece of humanity represented m tho photograph taken when tho patient was admitted. One boy, whoso condition on admission gave tbo impression that his days wore numbered, appeared in Liephotograph taken after the pcnnd of treatment like a young Apollo a cam’ that might with considerable accuracy w described as one of physical rebirth. “Tho benefit got from heliotherapy, said tho Christchurch doctor, “is the stimulation of the surface of the whole body, which regenerates the body. Iho air passing over tho body acts as a lonic, and, combined with sunlight, and sun- ■ heat, systematically applied, yon get this pigmentation which seems to inerenso the natural resistance of tho skin and tissues generally. ” , From*one aspect the sun cure may bo described ns a gradual “ hardening ” process. which- in time results in Nature effecting tho healing. Tho Christchurch doctor was strongly of opinion that in New Zealand the treatment of tuberculosis, and also of consumption. should proceed on the lines of providing sun hospitals, and the suggestion that Central Ota,go is one of the most suitable districts, in the Dominion for the establishment of such hospitals met with his approval. His observations in hugland. where he visited five sun hospitals, indicated that, while elevation is an advantage, almost .as satisfactory results are obtainable at less than 4,000 ft. which is about Dio elevation of Dr Rollk-r’s hospital at Levsin, At Alton, near Salisbury, the sun. hospital visited by Dr “X ” was at an elevation of only 500 ft. and good results were obtained there. The same, comment applied to two or three sun hospitals ho visited at Dio seaside near Liverpool. Rollier’s treatment may ho roughly divided into throe stage.?—Dio hospital stage, tho convalescent stage, and tho work-colony stage. The lash mentioned is ’designed not only to confirm the euro, bnt to'set up tho patient and fit him or her for tho. task of (being self-supporting. Farming work, gardening, chair-making, and basket-making aro some of the directions in which those under treatment are given, an opportunity to acquire skill and experience.

THE SPAHLINOEP. TREATMENT. This Ohristtohuircli medical man., m landing in England, made inquiries from a Harley street practitioner who had been using tho Spohlinger treatment, and was informed that it was not thoroughly established or proved, but without question fhoro was something in it. He was twice in Genova, saw Henry Spnhlingcr, went through his laboratory, oriel got some idea, of hia form of treatment—by means of a, serum and a vaccine. Judging from clinical results the Christchurch doctor was of opinion that the treatment was satisfactory. Prom the clinical point of view it seemed to bo producing wonderful results. It was hoped that in a very short time supplies of the scrum and vaccine would bo got for New Zealand, as Sir James Allen had interested himself in trying to got such supplies. “If the Spahimger treatment could be combined with tho sun treatment,” tho Christchurch doctor remarked, “there would bo no tuberculosis in New Zealand. In, say, ten years’ time it could bo stamped out." Ha presupposed, of course, a comprehensive national schema for coping with tuberculosis. The Spnhiingor treatment did not reconstitute the patient’s condition as tho sun euro did. Under tho sun enro tho patient’s vitality improved with tho influence of tho sun. The Spahlinger treatment, combined with the sun cure. Would increase tho patients’ vitality and probably quicken the time required to effect a, euro.

While the dominion’s population was comparatively small, the Health authorities had a ohar.ro of stamping out tuberculosis. Now Zealand possessed natural advantages as great as those of Switzerland, and results as satisfactory ns those obtained in that country could be obtained in. Now Zealand. From the results of Dr Rollier’s wori: it appeared to the doctor almost criminal to continue methods which past experience had shown were no good. From a financial point of view the sun cure had proved to bo efficacious and economical, as results at Loysin had demonstrated, and Micro was no question but that those advocating economy in expenditure of publio money would, by adopting the sun. cure method instead of the ordinary hospital method, find themselves in accord with the'truest economy and with medical theory*