TREATMENT OF PHTHISIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2950, 28 September 1910, Page 65

TREATMENT OF PHTHISIS.

PROPOSED ACTION IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, September 20. At a meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to-day Dr Hardwicks Smith, the medical superintendent, said he had been in communication with Dr Valintine (Inspector-general), and the following scheme had been suggested for the treatment of phthisis. He thought the scheme would commend itself to the board for its simplicity, its efficiency, and the ease with which it could be worked from both the medical and financial standpoint : (a) Compulsory notification of all phthisical cases; (b) The establishment of a dispensary to deal with all tuberculosis cases, as an adjunct to the hospital; (1) the dispensary to be under the . control of the board; (2) all cases to be notified to the Health Department: (3) when necessary, treatment by tuberculin injection ; (4) the drafting of cases to a sanatorium, ete. ; (5) treating cases in the patients' homes if they were sanitary and the cases were in a very early stage (in connection with this district, nurses to bo appointed who would visit and be in touch with the patients and instruct them how to live in their homes) ; (6) the distribution of literature on the subject of the disease and its infection, means to be taken to see that the advice was carried out. (c) Sanatoria for early cases. (d) Hospital sanatorium late cases (chronic), all such cases to be isolated. It is a recognised fact that a patient dying at home will practicably always pass on his infection to at least one individual. (e) Farms and outdoor work for cured cases, and for convalescents and patients suffering from chest diseases. The board approved of the scheme, and asked Drs Valintine and Smith to prosecute the subject further.