HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3040, 19 June 1912, Page 8

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The regular meeting of the Otago HosI)ital and Charitable' Aid Board was held ast week, and was attended by Messrs 8. S. Myers (in tne chair), E. A. Tapper, W. T. Talboys, J. J. Clark, J. H. F. Hamel, W. Blackie, R. Terapleton, H. M. Driver, W. Wilkinson, and. D. Larnadh. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs Gumming, Knight, Ewing, and "Walker. ' - *" -" :' \ " Motor " forwarded a donation of £3 for the children's ward.—Received with thanks. Dalgety and Co. (on behalf of Mrs Mary Jsichols) forwarded two cheques for £5 each as donations to the Hospital and Benevolent Institution. —Received with thanks. The Medical Superintendent reported that tliere were no beds for males or females available at the Sanatorium. It would therefore be necessary to increase the accommodation immediately. There had been, during the past six months, an unprecedented number of notifications of phthisis—almost 100 per cent, more than in previous years. The bacteriologist at the Hospital informed him that the same rate was maintained in regard to positive examinations for phthisis made in -hia laboratory. The abnormally wet season, probably, accounted for an increased incidence of the disease in the districts, and also an increase in the notifications would be due to the organised effort now made by the district nurse to search out and find cases of consumption. When the Sanatorium was first established the central department had advised that the beds should be allotted for a period of three months, and residence was more for educative than curative treatment. Ho considered that it would be necessary,- and the public would demand, that all cases of consumption, as long is they required treatment, must be cared for. Such -.an extension of the demand now being made would make it necessary for assistance being obtained from the General Government and private benevolence. The payer could not afford to do much more unaided.—The Chairman said this was a. big subject, and he would like to point out that the Otago section" of the British Medical Association was to meet here next month, and was going to consider the whole, subject of tuberculosis. There was, the open-air treatment for consumption to and also an extension of the Sanatorium so a.s to make it an industrial colony, while in addition tiheire was. the aid to families. These matters should be discussed, and he thought it might be a good thing if .the Medical Association invited the board's medical superintendent, and perhaps members of the board, to attend the conference. He would move—■ "That the Otago Section of the British Medical Association be asked to confer with the medical director of the Sanatorium and advise the board as to what further steps should be taken by the General Government, Hospital Board, or general public to assist in the crusade against consumption." Seventy-one consumptives had been notified last year in this district, and there had been 60 cases reported within the last five months and two weeks. —It was suggested that the motion be withheld until the matter came before the Sanatorium Committee, and the chairman agreeing to this course the report was referred to the committee named.