CONSUMPTIVES AT HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13648, 16 January 1908, Page 3

CONSUMPTIVES AT HOME.

OPEN-AIR TREATMENT. A cobresfondent writing to the Wellington Post recently asked if it was permissible for private persons to erect shelter sheds for consumptives within 7ft or Bft from their neighbours' back door. He complained of one such shelter situated on the section adjoining his in a yard of about 20ft square —presumably, he added, for a consumptive. " Since it has been proved," he wrote, "that this disease is contagious, it is scandalous that such things should bo allowed to exist. Ido not know the address of the health inspector, but I should imagine that someone must have given a permit for the erection of the shelter shed." I The letter was referred to tho district health officer (Dr. J. P. Frengley), who emphatically endorsed the action of the person of whom the correspondent complained. ; " A man is entitled," he said; "to take the best possible means of ensuring the return of good health of any child or relative. The, Health Department cannot prevent his doing this?, providing, at the same time, he does not injure the health of others. The treatment of cases of this kind in tho open air renders the tubercle bacilli . much less liable to be communicated to others than if the consumptive were confined to the house. The bacilli cannot stand the sun's rays nor the atmospheric oxygon., That has been proved over and over again. They do, however, thrive in a stuffy, badly ventilated room. ' The erection of tents and shelters for the home treatment of phthisical cases is the proper thing to do, especially in suspect cases. If other than members of the family were treated, then it would be at .once put a stop to by the Hospital Department, for this would be practically running a private hospital. I give credit to anybody being so enlightened as to take the wise step of providing any open-air treatment whatever for the benefit of a member of his family. A certain borough council in the. Dominion, fearing its reputation for salubrity of climate for the benefit of consumptives, drafted a bylaw regulating the conditions under which tents and shelters might be erected for the open-air treatment of consumptives or consumptive suspects. This works very well. I believe a fee of Is is charged, and no reasonable request is refused. The bylaw was originally intended to prevent local boardinghouses- packing tents with boarders in times of congestion and for other reasons; but the members of the council recognised, and rightly, that it was far better to have the .unfortunate persons who were suffering from consumption given ' a chance in the open air. Moreover, ; phthisis may follow an attack of measles, bronchitis, or pneumonia, for the body is then in a condition to afford an asylum for the tubercle bacilli. It would certainly be wise for any head of a family to put the children in a tent or a shelter, exercising all reasonable, intelligent care, of course, than keep them confined to the house where they might not get sufficient sun and fresh air."