CHECKING TUBERCULOSIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 10

CHECKING TUBERCULOSIS.

AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES*

HEALTH PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN*

The activities of the Australian Health Department will be described in a series of short articles which are to bo prepared for publication in daily newspapers. The Minister for Health, Mr. Anstey, is arranging for the preparation of these articles. They will deal specially with public health. Since Mr. Anstey has taken over the Health Department he says he has been surprised at the wide range of its work and pleased to find it playing so important a part in the general problem of protecting the national health. "I think," said Mr. Anstey, "that it it is only by means of publicity that the co-operation of the public can be obtained in certain activities which are still urgently necessary. Certain , major causes of death are being investigated gradually. From a comprehensive review which has been made by a senior officer of the department into tuberculosis in Australia it is evident that the amount of accommodation at sanatoriumg is now sufficient for probablo needs and there is no present necessity for providing for further expenditure in that direction. "It is very evident, however, that much organisation, is necessary—that persons suffering from tuberculosis or found to be in continual contact with patients, shall receive advice at an early stage and be examined in order- to find out whether infection has taken place. This work can be best carried out at tuberculosis dispensaries. The Federal Health Council has decided that the establishment of these dispensaries at the principal centres is urgently necessary and, the possibility of assisting the States in this direction will be one of the first matters .that I shall consider.

"Tubercular infection through meat and milk js aiso of importance," concluded Mr. Anstey. "Much lias already been done in Australia, but tho position might well be reviewed. A report is being prepared on tho necessity for a decision whether an attempt should be made to secure dairy herds entirely free from tuberculosis or whether reliance shall be placed upon the pasteurisation of milk."