THE WHITE PLAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 11

THE WHITE PLAGUE.

SPAHLIIMQER SERUM.

AUSTRALIAN ' ■■ ATTITUDE,

MORE INFORMATION WANTED

Considerable attention is being given to the claims made for the Spahlinger serum as a,'cure' for consumption, and as this dread disease is unfortunately prevalent in Australia and New Zealand, the Goveriiments of both countries have been urged to investigate the possibilities of the cure.

This matter was brought' under, the notice : : of .- !>ir .George Puller, Premier of New South Wales, who reached Auckland yesterday by the E.M.S. Makura, after an e:ctended visit to, England. Sir George said that his Government was watching the developments with close attention, and there was no doubt that if the experienced men' who were investigating the merits of the discovery pronounced it to be all that was claimed for it, it would be the, duty, of Governments to see that it was made available for their people. It would be a • most important matter if the serum proved capable of giving an effective cure, but as far as he was , concerned, he would want to know more about it before committing his Government to it. As far as he understood the position, the Imperial Government was having the matter brought before it, and it was in a much better position to arrive at a sound conclusion, sealing that it had eminent men ready to advise it. He thought that the representatives of the overseas Dominions should await the conclusions arrived at. However, his Government at least was not losing sight of the matter.

SANATORIUM TREATMENT. PROVISION IN CANTERBURY. AUOKLANDERS' INSPECTION [bt teleqeaph.— correspondent.] OHEISTCHTJHCH. Friday. In view of the possibility of *the Auckland Hoiipital Board erecting a sanatorium for consumptives in its district a deputation from the board, who were on a visit to Wellington in connection with the conference of North Island boards, decided to make an inspection of the Cashmere Hills Sanatorium, Christcburch, under the control of the Canterbury Board. The deputation comprised Mr. E. H. Potter; representing the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, Dr. C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent, Dr. A N. McKelvey, medical superintendent of the Costley Home arid Consumption Annexe, Messrs. M. J. Coyle, a member of the board, and H. H. Somervillo,- secreThe vimtors were accompanied on their inspection by Dr. Blackmore, who gave amormation concerning the number of patients and their treatment. The Auckland members were shown the buildings that are being used at present and also the block nearing completion for housing children who are predisposed to tubercular diseases.-

The members of the board and the medical superintendents were very much impressed with the work being done by Dr. Blackmore," said Mr. Potter after the visit. ' " Of course Auckland has not 30 manv ra conßu;nativ c . patients as Canterbury. The board has accommodation in the shelters for : about 60 oatients and this meets requirements. There are 32 patients in shelters, and in' addition the board has six patient* in Pukeora Sanatorium and two in the Otaki Sanatorium. We consider that when sub-soil drainage is given effect to in Christchurch, it may reduce the requirements for the accommodation for consumptive patients. According to leading authorities, the deathrate from tiiis disease is known to decrease according to the dryness of the soil produced by proper drainage. Buchanan in England and Bowditch in America long ago saw that the death-rate from consumption has a most distinct and direct relation to the dampness of the soil. The death-rate was found to decrease by as much .as 30 per cent, and in some cases 50 per cent, both in English and American towns when the water was disposed of and the soil dried by propar v drainag«." . Regarding control of sanatoria, ' Mr. Potter said Auckland, members were quite in accord with the' statement made, by Dr. T. H. .A. Valintine at the Wellington conference that boards could manage sanatoria, better than Government depart* ments.

The representatives of the Auckland Board also visited the infectious . diseases and the main hospital, and they expressed the opinion that the provision made for this class of case was highly creditable to tha Canterbury Board.