NO USE TO DOMINION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12251, 24 September 1925, Page 5

NO USE TO DOMINION

SPAHLINGER TREATMENT SAID TO BE A FAILURE DR. VALINTINE’S INVESTIGA. TIONS Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 23. That the Spahlinger treatment for tuberculosis is a failure, and should not be used in New Zealand hospitals, is the emphatic opinion of Dr T. H. A. Valintine, Director-General of Health, who returned to Auckland by the Athenio to-day, after six months' tour abroad. Dr Valintine went to the Continent to attend the League of Nations, it being understood by the Government of this country that he would investigate the hospitals of other countries ana pay special attention to the Spahlinger treatment. He was accompanied by Hr P. Chisholm, of Hanmer. “We met Spahlinger,” said Dr Valintine, “and my report on his treatment is already in the hands of the Minister. In our opinion, Spahlinger is an exceedingly interesting man, but he has not achieved, in the treatment of tuberculosis, the position

we had hoped he had. We think that the Spahlinger treatment is a failure, and is of absolutely no use in this country.” Glowing praise was paid to the New Zealand hospitals by Dr Valintino, who is now in a position to compare them with those of the Continent. Taking them all round, he stated that he is more than pleased with the hospital system in the Dominion and their management under boards. The week after his arrival in England, Dr Valintine went to Geneva, and saw the medical director of the League of Nations, Dr Raychmann. It was evident that the League was mostly concerned in the study of epidemiology and statistics. Dr Valintine, though interested in those subjects, was more concerned with matters touching the hospitals of the Dominion, and he made it his business to visit _ the various institutions on the Continent. DOMINION HOSPITALS PRAISED “I can say, with every- emphasis, that, with the exception of certain Swiss hospitals, onr New Zealand institutions are infinitely superior to any wo saw on the Continent. If you wish to see hospitals in any way comparable to our own institutions you have to go to Britain. In company with Dr Chisholm I visited several in the United Kingdom, and there, indeed, we saw hospitals worthy of the name. There were a few exceptions, bnt, taking them all round, I am quite confident : that to derive advantage from Hospital ■

experience one can only go to the Motherland.”