PUBLIC HEALTH

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 44

PUBLIC HEALTH

INTERVIEW WITH DR MASON. THE TREATMENT OF CANCER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, January 17. Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, is now on a visit to Napier. In the course of an interview', I asked the doctor his view of the proposal emanating from the Napier Hospital Board regarding the establishment of a cancer hospital for the colony? Dr Mason said he had furnished a special report on the question the Minister of Health, Sir Joseph Ward, and he believed the Cabinet would consider the report at an early date. While not at liberty to make known just now the contents of that report, lie desired to state that the Health Department appreciated the steps the Hospital Boards throughout the colony were taking in the matter of public health. As a result of the Napier Board’s action, special investigations were being made throughout the colony as to the frequency of cancer other than those eases disclosed in the RegistrarGeneral’s returns.

It was Dr Mason’s belief that the establishment of a so-called cancer hospital would in a great measure •nullify the objects for which such an institution was desired, and for this reason in nine cases out of_ ten people would not forsake a local hospital for a special institution to be treated unless ’’heir case was hopeless. They would feel that they were practically signing 'heir own death warrant. The various modes of treating cancer employed on the Continent, and at Home, were known to the hospital staffs in this colony, and. therefore, he did not think patients were now being deprived of any treatment in a local hospital which they might believe would only be available to them in a special institution for that purpose. At the present time scientific experiments were being conducted in the Health Department at Wellington by Air Gilruth, Government Pathologist, as to the possibility of cancer being transmitted from the lower animals to human beings, and he believed much good would result from these investigations.

Dr Mason was questioned regarding the establishment of an inebriates’ home. The Government Home at Waitati, near Dunedin, close to the Seacliff Asylum, lie said, was now almost ready for the reception of patients. It was under the charge of Dr Truby King and a matron, Nurse Thompson. It had accommodation for about twenty-five female and twenty-five male patients. He believed in the necessity for such a home, because hitherto a confirmed drunkard would not be admitted for treatment at a hospital, gaol, or asylum. A Magistrate had the. power to commit a man to the home where it was hoped by the treatment he received that the twelve months’ sojourn in it would cure him of his craving for drink. He believed that there would be many desirous of seeking admission on their own account. One difficulty was the length of time for which a patient should remain there. He thought that nothing less than a year would be of any use. He had no faith in the various cures put forth for saving drunkards. Abstention from all temptation, good.healthy farm work in the grounds of the home, with judicious medical treatment for a lengthy period, were worth more than all the quack remedies. A drunkard’s nervous system required rejuvenating, and that was only possible by keeping him under supervision and amongst surroundings where his nerve tissues could be thoroughly built up._ Again, such a home was a most desirable institution, and must prove useful in the work of reformation.