SUNLIGHT TREATMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20338, 20 August 1929, Page 10

SUNLIGHT TREATMENT.

HELPING SICK CHILDREN.;

" HOSPITAL-SCHOOL " SCHEME.

PROVISION OF A SOLARIUM. Having secured tho freehold of the Nelson Street School site and a remission from tho Government of £IOOO of the purchase money, the Auckland Community Sunshine Association is losing no time in obtaining the maximum use of its newlyacquired property. Plans have been prepared for an additional building, estimated to cost £2OOO. and upon securing the approval of the City Council, tenders will immediately be called for its erection.

The association will establish the first solarium in Auckland. The Auckland Savings Bank has donated £IOOO toward the cost of tho new building. A previous donation by tho bank amounted to £2OOO. The plans have been drawn up by Mr. W. S. Putwain, honorary architect of the association. " Tho new building," said the president, Mrs. N. E. Fcrner, yesterday, " will bo constructed in wood, which is more easily wnunfed by the sun and retains the heat in a way that brick or concreto cannot do. One side of the building will bo completely open to tho sun for classrooms and a rest room, and tho children, of whom there will bo accommodation for about 60, will have a period, probably two, reserved each day for sun treatment. Selection of Pupils. " There will be a doctor's examination room, where tho children will bo weighed and their blood pressure, heart beats and temperature la ken regularly and carefully observed, while on the roof a solarium will lie built in accordance with the latest knowledge about sunlight treatment. The building will be the first of its kind in the Dominion. In its design and provisions wo have had the advice of world experts, and we scrapped a good many plans before we decided upon its present form.

" Tho selection of children suitable for treatment at tho hospital-school will be largely in tho hands of tho school doctors," said Mrs. Fcrncr. "We will cater specially for children suffering from rheumatics, heart troubles. infantile paralysis, and children showing tubercular weakness or under-dcvolopmenL Children who aro leaving hospital in a feeble condition may also come to us to, bo completely restored to health. It should be realised that, although tho Plunket Society is doing a wonderful and indispensable work, it starts from tho child's babyhood, and at present there is nothing to continue the work nfterwards. Our idea is to fill that niche, and build up healthy youth after the baby stage." Appeal to tho Public.

Mrs. Fcrner announced that the Auckland Savings Bank had donated a further £IOOO to the association, and the money would bo used to initiate the fund for tho erection of the new building. The remaining £IOOO would have to be raised by public subscription, and an appeal would bo made to tho citizens to donate liberally during the " Forget-me-not " street collection on Friday, September 6. It was proposed to equip the new building as funds permitted. As many of tho school classes as possiblo would be hfcld in tho open air, Mrs. Ferner added. To make the environment as pleasant as circumstances would permit, the grounds would be put down in grass. She hoped tho building would be ready for occupation in about two months.

On a recent visit to Napier Mrs. Ferner consulted Dr. A. Berry, medical superintendent of tho Napier Hospital, who paid a visit last year to the eminent scientist Rolier, who is carrying out' successful treatment for tuberculosis in Switzerland. It is proposed that tho Education Department should provide the teachers for the school and tho Health Department should supply tho nurses, who will be under tho control of the school medical department. Tho financial control of tho institution will remain in tho hands of the association.