A HEALTH OFFICER ABROAD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14201, 25 October 1906, Page 3

A HEALTH OFFICER ABROAD.

DR VALINTINE’S IMPRESSIONS. [From Otjr Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 24. ! Dr Valintine, Assistant Chief Health. Officer of the colony, to-day arrived, in Wellington on his return from a visit to the Old World. In an interview ho stated that a great deal of his time was taken, up with making inquiries and arrangements connected, with the sanitary branch of the International Exhibition. At first there was some reluctance on the part of prospective exhibitors to send materials such a • long distance, but he had every reason to flops that the sanitary branch of the Exhibition.will be an exceedingly good and instructive one., Eight of the leading sanatoria of England were visited by Dr Valintine. Dr Roberts, superintendent of the Cambridge and Miss Rotchford, until recently matron of that institution, accompanied him on a number of his visits. His inspection of tho Cambridge, institution was particularly interesting. “Of , course,” he said, “this institution is run, on a very large scale. The buildings are simply magnificent.” The King’s Sanatorium was, opened _tho ‘ month Dr Valintine arrived in England. He described this institution al- I go as a magnificent structure, every detail being carefully thought out by the architects. A great feature of the institution, was its open air chapel. About one hundred are receiving treat- j ment here. These sanatoria are on a much- larger . and ■ more , costly scale than , could be attempted in New Zea- I land. The sanatorium which gave Dr Valintine most interest was that of F rim ley, which is the sanatorium for the Bronipton Hospital for diseases of the chest. Here again he found magnificent buildings, and the patients were all busily employed. He saw a number - of men doing real navyying work, and apparently keeping' healthy by such work. Dr Paterson, who is in charge of this institution, stated his emphatic belief that consumptive patients .should be provided with suitable employment. To quote a few other instances, Dr Valintine stated that he saw women hoeing paths, collecting gravel, etc., while a number of men wei - e employed at solid Eick and shovel work. During the day, >r Valintine asked several of the patients if they were fatigued by the work. They answered that they bad been at first, hut since they had become used to the labour they were glad to think they had something to do. Discussing what he, saw at, these sanatoria, "Dr Valintine mentioned a surprising fact. He stated that he was much struck by the excellence of the meat supplied to the inmates, and later on was astonished and pleased to learn that it was- New Zealand beef and mutton. With the single exception of one sanatorium he visited. New Zealand frozen meat was used in all cases.