X-RAY CAMERA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 109, 21 April 1936, Page 9

X-RAY CAMERA

Value of Treatment of Tuberculosis NO CHARGE. BY BOARD The value of the X-ray camera in the treatment of tuberculosis was revealed when members of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board discussed yesterday the possibilities of encouraging the use of X-ray among those patients who were discouraged because of the expense. The The medical superintendent, Dr. J. J. Foley, said that doctors nowadays were convinced that the X-ray camera was of great assistance in the treatment of this disease, which was taking its toll of life in New Zealand at the rate of about 600 people a year. The board decided to make no charge to T.B. patients for X-raying, and to apply to the Department of Health for a subsidy to reimburse the board for its expenditure in this direction. Doctors, were more or less unanimous that tuberculosis contact cases could be diagnosed by means of X-ray, said Dr. Foley to members of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board yesterday afternoon. They wanted to know, however, whether a patient might be X-rayed without any charge to himself or herself, for the doctors were afraid that if people thought they had to pay the cost, they would be afraid to agree to an X-ray.

In New Zealand al the present time, about 600 people died per year as a result of the disease, he added.

"This is such an important subject that we should do everything possible to stamp the disease out, ” said Mr S. J. McKee. Tho .chairman, Mr C. O, Morse, agreed, and suggested that tubercu-losis-contact patients who were X-rayed might receive the same consideration as ordinary outside cases received; that is, their particular circumstance might considered and they should be expected to pay if they could afford to. X-RAYING OF CONTACTS. "Could not steps be taken to urge upon people concerned the advisability of getting X-rayed?" asked Mr C. Duff. "What we want, I take it, is to find out from a T.8.-eontact pativ.nl where he or she contracted the disease, and to X-ray the person responsible for handing on the disease. , "It seems In me that the tn itf< »

should go further, and that the Department of Health should interest itself in the X-raying of tuberculosis cases.” Dr. 11. M. Wilson: It all depends whether the patient wants to bo X-rayed or not. Mr Duff: .That’s why I was wondering whether the department might make X-raying compulsory.

Dr. Wilson: I don’t know -whether tho department would be prepared to make it compulsory. That is rather a drastic step, and I doubt whether public opinion would be in favour of it.

APPLICATION FOR SUBSIDY. On the motion of Mr Morse, the board resolved to make no charge against tubcreulosis-conta' , t patients for Xraying, and that application be made to the department for a subsidy towards this cost to the board. Acting on Mr Morse’s suggestion, the secretary-manager, Mr E. T. Rees, and Dr. Foley are to draw up suitable notices to be forwarded to medical men on the subject of X-ray charges for tuberculosis-contact patients.

Dr. Foley pointed out that once a person had contracted tuberculosis, ho seemed to be ostracised by society. Such people could not procure jobs; people would not employ them.

Mr McKee made reference to the danger of persons contracting tuberculosis without knowing it. lie recalled an instance when, ten years ago, a person called at a certain place for morning tea. He was infected with tho disease, and as a result there were four deaths from his contact. Dr. Foley: We had a case where a man had T.B. in tho chest and did not know it. lie was employed at a job where ho handled a lot of correspondence. The discussion then lapsed.