CONSUMPTION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 20 April 1922, Page 5

CONSUMPTION

TERIBLE TOLL

NEED FOR DEFINITE ACTION,

(by telegraph—press association.} CHRISTCHURCH, April 19. "If New Zealand legislators could be compelled to sit in the tuberculosis dispensary with me day by day for a few weeks and listen, as I have to listen, to the despairing words of heartbroken j fathers, mothers, husbands and wives and watch their tears flow as I have to watch them, something definite and active might be clone to rid the community of the terrible scourge of consumption. '' This passage occurred in the annual report of Dr G. J. Blackmore, medical director of the North Canterbury Hospital Board's tuberculosis institutions received by the board at its meeting to-day. The director took the oppo* tunity to make a forcible and stirring appeal for more widespread and thorough treatment of consumption in New Zealand. "The Cashmere Sanatorium," stated Dr Blackmore, "has now been open twelve years, and as regards the eamj paign against consumption in New Zealand generally it is very discouraging to have to record that no real progress has been made. Such measures as are being taken are being carried out in piecemeal and consequently inefficient fashion. There is no defined national policy, no uniform and universal scheme for dealing with tuberculosis in New Zealand, and until this is adopted no real progress will be made. "Your board has spent much money in trying to deal adequately with consumptives within its borders, but of what avail is it to have expensive buildings in which to treat consumptives, who can be cured, and to segregate those who cannot, when the board's district is surrounded by other districts in which no measures whatever are being- taken, and whose consumptives can pass freely into this district at "their own will and pleasure? In trying, under existing conditions, to eradicate consumptives from North Canterbury your board has the task of Sisyphus, and with about as much chance of success as he had. "Much activity has recently been shown in connection with the problematical entry of bubonic plague into New Zealand, but this other plague is allowed to stalk almost unchecked through the country, slaying hundreds and maiming probably five times as many as it kills year after year. The apathy, both public and official, in connection with, this disease is tragic and almost incredible. Conferences have been held, resolutions passed and promises made, and there the effort has ended. Consumption will never be eradicated from New. Zealand unless something in the nature of a denned and active policy is initiated." The board held over the report for consideration at its next meeting.