TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15557, 14 March 1914, Page 4

TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTIVES.

Sir,—ln his letter, in which he refers to proposals for the treatment of consumptive patients, the chairman of the Hospital Board does not set forth the position as it was left by the previous board. At an earlier _ stage an attempt was made to induce the management of the Cambridge Sanatorium to receive both the board's curable and incurable cases. The proposal was rejected, the board being informed that the sanatorium was- for curable cases only. The Department, how- ■ ever, consented to take cases generally until other arrangements could te made „ by the board The board, upon an occasion when the Inspector-General was himself present, concluded the purchase of a portion of the Knox farm at Tamaki, which contained a volcanic stony area. Instructions were given to the architect to inspect various sanatoria in other parts of the Dominion, and to proceed with the plans for the erection of a sanatorium upon that site. Tenders were called, and the work was to be proceeded with. The board at this juncture went out of office, and a new board, with Mr. Mennie as chairman, came in. For some reason or other the new board did not proceed further in the matter. It had been the intention to provide at Tamaki for such i chronic and incurable cases as were unsuited to the circumstances of the Government institution, the Knox Incurable Home also rejecting such cases. There ' does not appear to have been any definite nolicy in the working of the Waikato Sanatorium. Comparatively few cases have been treated at vast cost to the country. But unless better things may be looked for through the influence of the Public Service Commissioners there is no guarantee that any arrangement made for the treatment of the board's patients maj not be upset. Otherwise the idea of one sanatorium for all classes of consumptives has much to recommend it. It would thus be safer to make provision close at hand for. chronic and less hopeful cases. We must quite sympathise with Mr. Mennie ■ in having to handle this difficult matter so shortly after becoming a \ member of the board. -.- E. H. Potter. ) Valley Road, March 5. ■