AVAR ON TUBERCULOSIS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 233, 30 August 1935, Page 8

AVAR ON TUBERCULOSIS.

Ix agreeing to establish clinics for the detection and early treatment of tuberculosis, following representations made by the chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board and a representative of the Department ox Health, four of the hospital boards in the Wanganui-Taranaki district are giving commendable support to a movement in which the Palmerston North Board may claim to be a leader. This is a campaign which, if the public response is as keen as the interest beingtaken by the authorities, should in time prove of considerable benefit from a national health point of view as well as i-educe the burden thrown upon many hospitals owing to the prolonged cost of chronic tuberculosis cases. It lias been pointed out on numerous occasions that this disease is taking toll of too many young people. The Palmerston North Board has come oven more closely in contact with the trouble since it took over, at the request of the Government, the administration of the Otaki Sanatorium, and its chairman no doubt had to aid him in his discussions with the other hospital authorities much information gained by this experience. The Otaki institution, as the results of the first year’s control bv the board show, is being- administered with much satisfaction, and the aim is now to reduce even further the cost to patients for treatment ; it has already been lowered to 9s a day. But it is recognised that this in itself is not enough. The big problem is to catch the disease in its early stages, and it is hoped that the establishment of clinics will achieve this. It would be unfortunate were the public not to realisc this, for, as has been claimed by medical authorities, there is hope for a complete cure by treatment in the incipient stages. r lhe establishment of numerous sanatoria, which would become necessary if tlie rate of chronic cases continued or increased, would be very costly and would be contrary to the best practice. To detect and treat the disease at the point where successful treatment is pos'sible is the goal. The movement is of tremendous importance to the Dominion, and it is satisfactory to note that efforts to establish clinics in places other than those mentioned are also to be made.