PREVENTING DISEASE.

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1921, Page 2

PREVENTING DISEASE.

.WP'.-rr XKKDED IN NEW XI-:A I/AND

HOs.r.i T'A L OOiIMISSION'S r : !v ; OM M KXDATION

Incrcnv <1 attention' to the prevention of -k'kness in New Zealand is one of the recommendations of the Hospital Coiin;ris-;io». ."Your commission," states ffho report, "Received evidence upoh tho possibilities of preventive treatment being the means of reducing tho Tmrnboi' of hospital patients and thereby lessening hospital expenditure, and formed tho opinion that it is practicable by , propaganda work, on the right lines, materially to improve the health of the community. 'I feel confident,' stvid Dr. Hciibert, of . Wellington, 'iu stating that (snc-third of the diseased conditions which force patients int.) public hospitals is preventable,' and he then emphasised ■the necessity of medical inspection and physical training of school children*. Dr. Colquhonn, of Dunedin, was emphatic upon the necessity of 'freslx air schools' as a means of raising healthy school children and the Hon. Dr. Collins, of "Wellington, spoke on similar lines. "Your commission is of opinion that, an increased effort to prevent disease ■should be organised by the Health Department, and attention should be dircctcd towards ensuring healthy conditions ia our schools, tho restriction of movements in infectious disease 'carriers,' and those suffering from active venereal diseases; proper inspection of children's tcetli; effective medical inspection of immigrants and ships' crows to detect infectious or contagious disease; destruction of rats, flies, and other vermin-carriers of disease. 'Your commission further considers "that liberal encouragement should bo given by tho Government for medical research work, more especially in regard to diseases that, are more prevalent here than in other countries;."