HOSPITAL BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12532, 20 June 1901, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met, on -Tuesday; present—Messrs" Talbot (chairman), Macintosh, M'Laren, Gillingbam, "Dean . and Hole. The Chairman stated that 1 a committee, appointed for the.' purpose, had prepared a report on the subject of consumptive patients. The committee had had a complaint made to them 'by Dr Reid, one of the medical staff, about aj defective drain near the operating-room. He regretted to report that • Dr, Munro, locum tenens for Dr Gabites, hud handed in 'his resignation, on account .of illhealth. The committee's report on consumption cases stated that the subject was brought under the notice of the Board by Dr Munro. As consumption is now Tecognised to he a contagious disease, such cases ought not to be treated in the general wards, and the . doctor's object in drawing attention to the matter was to point out the neceissity for the establishment of colonial sanatoria, for the proper and national treatment of this disease, but it was not necessary to materially alter the practice that at .present obtains with regard to admission of such cases. The majority come within th© scope of the by-law referring to chromao and incurable cases, and the resources of the Hospital were sufficient in the meantime for dealing with such cases as require to be admitted, chiefly cases an which there is some other cause for admission. The committee fully endorse the opinion of Dr Munro, that, on grounds of Immanity and public health, there should' be suitable homes established for the proper treatment of consumption. It was resolved to bring the report under the notice of the Government, and of other Hospital Boards and the Boards of Health in the South Island. A claim from the Borough Council for £l2 7s, for one- third cost of kerbing and channelling along the frontage, had been previously put aside aa an improper claim, out at was now agreed to pay it. Mr M'Laren protesting against it. Dr Munro spoke in reply to Dr Reid's allegation that a drain was defective. He (Dr Munro) had taken, a special degree in 'sanitary science, and from, what he knew of the practice at Home he would say that any sanitary authority would pa«s the drain a$ satisfactory, even the part complained of by Dr Reid. It was agreed that the Chairman should see the architect about it. The resignation of Dr Munro was accepted', with many expressions of reg!ret ? and it was subsequently decided to advertise for somelone to fill the vacancy, until the return of Dr Gabites from South Africa. Accounts were -passed for payment amounting to £470 17s lid. A few charitable aid oases were dealt with.