TUBERCULOSIS INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20011, 30 July 1928, Page 12

TUBERCULOSIS INQUIRY

CRITICISM OF THE REPORT. DR. G. J. BLACKMORE'S VIEWS. USE OF TUBERCULIN DEFENDED. |BV TKLEUKAVH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J (.'IIRISTCIIUrtCH, Saturday. Criticising the report of the committee of inquiry into prevention and treatment of tuberculosis in Now Zealand, Dr. G. J. Blackmore, director of. tuberculosis institutions under tho North Canterbury Hospital Board, maintains that hospital boards should have control of tho treatment of cases, that tho use of tuberculin prevents relapses, and that cases cannot be treated as successfully at home as they can be in a sanatorium. One of the committee's recommendations is for a division of tuberculosis to lie established under the control of a director of tuberculosis, who would himself bo under tho control of tho Health Depart inent. Dr. Blackmoro favoured action by tho joint, hospital boards. They had the necessary experience, institutions and equipment for dealing with most diseases. Public Interest and Education. "Another reason why the boards should take charge of tho movement is that neither a Government department nor tuberculosis expert can get rid of tuberculosis." continued Dr. Blackmore, "for any measures, to bo successful, must have the interest and co-operation of the public. This interest and co-operation cannot bo obtained otherwise than by education, tho most powerful agent we can employ in this campaign. I think that there is no better way to co-operation and education than by getting representatives of the public to run the whole concern and control the spending of the money, which they themselves will have to find." In urging that the use of tuberculin in sanatoria should be discouraged tho committee added that the use of tuberculin was of doubtful value. " I want to give that an emphatic denial, and I also challenge the qualifications of the men consulted by the committee who have given that opinion," said Dr. Blackmore. " I have had experience of tho giving of tuberculin for close upon 35 years. I have been responsible for the giving of well over 200,000 injections, I have given fully 140,000 by my own hand, and the rest havo been given by my assistants under my supervision.

" The Best Remedy at Present." " So far as 1 know the bacteriologists who have been consulted have had no experience, or, at any rate, very little, in the giving of tuberculin in the treatment of tuberculosis of the lungs. lam aware that some doctors in other countries do not believe in the'use of tuberculin, but 1 know of no authority who has mastered the technique of the treatment who does not believe in its efficacy. "In my opinion, although tuberculin is not a cure for tuberculosis, it is the best remedy we possess at present for the treatment of the disease. Not only has it a marked effect, if given properly, upon the disease itself, but it has an influence in preventing relapses taking place afterwards Cashmere and Waipiata. "The committee's proposal is that someone who knows nothing about the patient should tell the specialist, who knows all about the patient, how the treatment is to be carried out. I wonder what the members of tht- committee would say if that proposition were put before them in regard to their private practice. The real reason given by the committee for discouraging the use of tuberculin is that it prolongs tho stay of patients in the institutions. This simply means that though 1 believe in the use of tuberculin treatment I am to be discouraged from giving it in order that the patients may be sent out earlier with, as I believe, "their disease unarrested, and certainly without having received tho treatment which gives them the best prospect of getting well. "The committee is of opinion that Cashmere and Waipiata are not being used to tho best advantage. This opinion is apparently based on what I have said about the prolonged stay of patients in (he institutions. Snrelv the specialist who is responsible for the treatment of the patients should bo tho one to say how these patients should be treated and when they aro in a fit state to be discharged. In regard to the Cashmere Sanatorium not being used to the best advantage—l take in all patients who apply for treatment through their own doctors and deal with them in what I believe to be a satisfactorv way."

AUCKLAND COMMENT. SOLUTION NOT ADVANCED. PROBLEM IN NORTH ISLAND. " 1 do not think tho solution of the problem of dealing with tuberculosis will bo advanced as tho result of the recommendations of the committee," said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of tho Auckland Hospital Board, yesterday, referring to tho report presented by the committee which inquired into tuberculosis in the Dominion. Dealing with tho recommendation for a division of tuberculosis to be established in the Health Department under a director, Mr. Wallace said he did not agree with this. "My opinion is that there should bo one sanatorium for the whole of tho North Island," ho said. " I suggest it should be well inland, say between Waiouru and tho National Park, on a well elevated site. It should bo placed close to tho railway, for efficient and economic working, and a specialist—ono who has mado a life-long study of the disease—should be in charge, with tho whole of the administration under his control. This specialist should bo assisted by a competent medical and clerical staff." Willi regard to tho recommendation that, hospital boards should be encouraged to establish tuberculosis dispensaries, Mr. Wallaco said Dr. A. N McKelvcy, medical officer in charge of tho Auckland Infirmary, was looked upon as tho board's tuberculosis expert, and persons who wero unable to pay foi treatment could always receive attention from him. At tho present time there wore no facilities fov a dispensary, and there would not bo until a large administrative block was oreeted. Dealing with the statoment that accommodation for advanced cases in Auckland was inadequate, Mr. Wallace said tho board had had this question under consideration for some time. Ho anticipated new slieltors would be erected at Epsom in the near future Each of the shelters costs about £3s<l and each houses four patients. " I consider the report of the committee bears out statements of tho Diroctor-Genoral Dr. Valintine, that people have been admitted to sanatoria who havo not got tho disease," added Mr. Wallaco.