OUR LADY'S LETTER

NZ Truth, Issue 730, 14 June 1919, Page 2

OUR LADY'S LETTER

By "DOT."

Dear "Dot," — You are very good at working for the soldiers. So would you find out why there .are no X-ray appliances at the Trentham Hospital. Surely after men have suffered for many months and the torture, of the journey home, there is no need for them to endure endless sufferings till the doctors find out their troubles. The X-rays would save alii that, and you would, be doing a. great work for, suffering soldiers if you would inquire into the '-matter. If they have not got it, why not the Patriotic Society get it, as tvo ihavc given to that for this purpose. Hoping you will do your usual good work quickly. — Yours etc., "A CONSTANT HEADER." The above letter speaks for itself. After making careful and guarded inquiries from men who have been m hospital, and those who should be m, and are not, "Dot" finds there is ground for a public indignation meeting being held to protest against the treatment of these poor brave chaps owing to the absence of X-ray treatment. In fact there is no .X-ray apparatus m any of the soldiers' wards, am! at the Victoria Ward m our own city, a man went up to have his jaw examined upon the order of one doctor who evidently scented some serious trouble. The unfortunate man waS brusquely received, -but after an attempt' at a dignified withdrawal on the part of the patient, he was superficially examined and turned over to the dentist, who was not available for some days, though . the unfortunate soldier journeyed up each day and arrived back at this lodgings m a fainting condition. Getting tired of this neglect he went lo an-, other dentist* and paid to have a good' tooth extracted, according to the hospital doctor's diagnosis. The intense pain and swelling still continuing the man again reported at the 'hospital and was an in-patient for a week, or so and discharged m the same state as when he first reported. Fortunately for him, as his mates say, he was living at the Returned Soldiers' Hostel on the Terrace, and received every assistance m applying hot fomentations, and had special dietary, but, the huge swelling became still worse and She refused to parade at Victoria Ward any longer. Then the matron of the hostel took a firm hand and reported to the new A.D.M.S., Colonel Hogg, who saw the feoldier and ordered X-ray treatment, with the result that a lump of shell or some other foreign body was located! This man first reported early m January and was not X-rayed until May; and is now m Trentham Hospital to be operated upon. Would any person but a brave returned soldier (have submitted to such barbaric neglect? Why are not some of these huge patriotic funds used to purchase X-ray apparatus for each hospital used by soldiers? Surely and certainly the Red Cross would have supplied the necessary funds had they been asked to do so. Why iwere they not asked? We held up our hands m holy 'horror when we heard of out soldiers, who were taken prisoners by the Huns, having limbs amputated without an anaesthetic, yet we allow our men to linger for months m agony for want of X-ray treatment or observation! In the hospital at Trentham, to which all ill men are now sent since Victoria Ward has been handed back to its old people, there are many men needing operations that have been too long delayed and yet there is no X-rays to locate the actual seat of the trouble. Yet we are so up-to-date, you know, m our military hospitals, Whilgt on the X-ray question there is some talk of an outside doctor or doctors possessing a monopoly m this business and their fees are pretty stiff. Will some parliamentarian ask ques--tibns next session and seek an amendment of the law if necessary, and give free X-rays to the general .public — especially soldiers, or at least charge a very- reasonable rate? •"• -. •• ♦ . , ■ Men of the "sport" type who will philander with their typistes or clerks, should look out for spectators m upper windows. One, a senile old chap, who loves to think he is still able to make an impression m the heart of the gentler sex, provides much amusement (combined with disgust) to a number of people m an office oh the opposite side of tile street. Both he and the creature are m full view, from the upstairs, though a wire gauze prevents the passers-by from also enjoying the spectacle. ; . Whilst on this topic, who is the individual m one of the Defence Departments who made a victim of the wife of an absent soldier? One would expect such a person as a man who stayed at home would have regarded an absent soldier's wife and family as sacred, instead of setting himself to \ ruin them. Of course, the woman Is equally to blame m all these matters but it was up to the cold-footer to have safeguarded her instead of encouraging ■her m her weakness. * • . ■• A few -weeks ago "Dot" drew attention to an Auckland firm who : were not playing the game towards a returned Main Body man. The Repatriation Board got to work and the firm has now made room for the man m a position equail to the original one, and "Dot" is pleased to make this known, o • •■• The Italian fisher cap is la mode once more, and is easily made at 'home. A band of cardboard about 2 inches long and 4 inches deep forms the foundation and when covered with velvet is joined at the side. A triangle of velvet with the base 22 inches or more to fit into the band is finished off at a point which is allowed to droop over the side and may be fastened to the brim with a tassel finish. The whole hat lining, and all may be made for six or seven shillings. The same size band serves for the close fitting French toques, only a circle is used instead of a triangle, and less material is needed. *•. « • • Most people m authority are making great preparations, to celebrate Peace, when it comes. The trouble will be m working up any enthusiasm so many months after the armistice was declared. Italian and Spanish folk can enjoy a carnival at any time, but we, stolid Britishers cannot. Shall we ever forget Mafeking night, and the wild doings when the relief of that city was assured? It would be wiser on the whole to curb expenditure m the direction of Peace celebrations and just enjoy a simple carnival of fun and frolic and use the cash to buy blankets and coal for. our poorer people. «....« • ■• Is it true that certain Ministers of the Crown are already preparing to hand back goods and land to our German aliens who have been allowed to remain m New Zealand? It would be as. well to watch the "Gazette etc.— but then the damage will be done. * * * The Birthday Honors list has created quite a stir m this and other cities. It is amusing to hear the public comments as to whether he or she is deserving or otherwise. Also, loud wondering as to why some people are not included who should be. The comments of some of the juniors m the Defence Departments would be an eyeopener to. a few of the officers who have been made 0.8.85., strong objection being 1 taken to "cold-footers receiving honors and men who have no more brains than an owl receiving them,: whilst those actually responsible for the work are unmentioned. Never, mind lads! "' It is no use growjing, .we'll be a long tinie -'dead,- and if takes a lot of gold braid and , tinsel to-, make up to those chaps whose hearts are craven and . whose brains are an unknown quantity. - ■'" ' ■. •■ .;.- >.• • - ■■..'■-,■ Again, why are not. the executive chiefs 'of- the,, W.N.R.- decorated? A. lons screed of appreciation appeared '

lately from the Minister for Defence expressing his deep gratitude for the voluntary work done .by. that body,-and-yet Dr. Platts-Mills and Mrs. F. Porter, who organised this large and valuable body of war workers are omitted from the list of honors! Whilst slattering so many round Base Records and headquarters to the O'Neils, Nutsfords, Orams, etc., why not distinguish Major Vine, Messrs. Judkin and Mathewson? Perhaps next time they may be remembered. • ■ r> * Pom-Fom and Pom are leaving for a winter trip amongst the "-summer isles of Eden." Let's hope they will have a real good time and the natives ditto. •„ * • Once again "Truth" has justified itself, according to the report of Dr. Collins, who writes that the use of chipped enamel utensils was responsible for the great number of appendicitis cases that have been so prevalent m the military camps some time ago. "Dot" drew public attention to the disgraceful state of the enamelware m the camps and heard that as a result of the exposure that an.inspection and change was made, and scores of lives saved thereby. A cheap granite enamel was imported from Gei'many, and no doubt was intended to cause mortality amongst us, and is another reason why we should never again 'allow German goods to enter our -dominion. „ Is your beauty fading? Then give up standing over the fire making jam and instead order from the grocer that delicious St. George Apricot Jam. It is made as ' carefully as you make yours and being handled entirely by scientific machinery, costs you . no more than "home-made; -Remember St. -George* - • ♦