TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21404, 31 January 1933, Page 12

TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

Sir, —In answf r to "Economy" r e McDowell's increased honorarium, I hive been an inmate of the Epsom Shelters and feel I must write to express, my Jp ! preciation of the* benefit I received from Dr. .McDowellpersonal supervision Having studied tuberculosis, he uutlouitl eclly is well qualified to hold the position and the suggested increase is quite juslj! fied when. one considers the number of tuberculosis patients—not only those m the shelters, but also those who attend his clinics—who depend on his conscientious attendance and care. It would be anything but economy to dispose of Dr. Dowell's services, as there are many liksmyself who havn him to thank for their recovery from such a dread disease. Ex-Patient.

Sir,—lt happened that I was ju?t returning from a visit to Dr. McDowell, at Epsom, when .1 read the Herald') report referring to his increased honorarium, and it astonished me that a specialist devoting practically the whole of his time to the alleviation of the unfortunate and dreaded disea.se of puj. monary tuberculosis should receive so modest an honorarium. In my own case his diagnosis was in accord in detail with my subsequent X-ray and other teits. Surely "Economy" does not consider an outlay of £350 too much fof a district of the size of Auckland to pay for the services of a qualiiied practitioner to attend to these poor unfortunates. "Reckless expenditure becomes a scandal," he writes. How this stings in this instance. Would it not have been a scandal had the Hospital Board failed to provide, but relied solely on honorary men, for such supervision ? Why nhould these sufferers ba made the practicing mediums upon whom young practitioners may gain experience? Quite all right ivere they to work under or in conjunction with qualified men. Like all others, Dr. McDowell has to live, and why should he/ or any other supervising specialist be expected to give almost their full services free ? Doe 3 "Economy" do it in his line? From my own experience the Hospital Board is fortunate in its choice of a man devoted to his task,, and its action appeals to me. i Unemployed.