The Hawera Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1929. TREATMENT OF RHEUMATISM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 April 1929, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1929. TREATMENT OF RHEUMATISM

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock in Hawera. Manaia. Normanby. Okaiawa, Eltham. Mangatoki- Kaponga. Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley. Mokoia, Whakamara, Obangai, Meremere. Fraser Road, and Ararata

An interesting news item reported lately from London is the announcement that the famous Regent’s Park Chapel is to be converted by the Red Cross Society into a; clinic for the treatment of rheumatism. The use of the chapel is in itself interesting, because the building was not always a chapel. At ■one time it was the home of a diorama —the forerunner of the picture show — and then it was converted into a; Baptist chapel. Dr. Meyer, Dr. Clifford and the Rev. F. C. Spun- were among the preachers who occupied its pulpit. It ceased to be used for religious purposes in 1922, when the lease expired. The chapel belongs to the Crown and no alteration. of the exterior is to be permitted. It will cost the Red .Cross Society some £40,000 to equip it for the new purpose, but the: money will be well spent, because: rheumatism is economically one of the most expensive of •diseases. Rheumatic diseases involve about two millions sterling a year in sick pay and probably three million weeks of lost labour. The intention is to equip the institution: for the methods of treatment adopted ait Bath, Harrowgate, and other great spas, including vapour baths, manipulation, massage, j electrical treatment, and so. forth — methods of proved efficacy. It is expected that fully 12,000 patients will be under treatment every year. This is the first step in .the now British national campaign against rheumatism, and once the success of the scheme is assured similar, though smaller, clinics will be established in other cities. There •is widespread ignorance concerning | rheumatism, many forms of which yield readily to. quite simple treatment, and the plan of the society is to give instruction for home treatment as well as to provide facilities for more elaborate methods. The hope is that the. institutions will be self-supporting. The scheme has the approval and assistance of the Ministry of Health.