A HEALTH UNIVERSITY

Otago Witness, Issue 3145, 24 June 1914, Page 3

A HEALTH UNIVERSITY

BATTLE CREEK SANATORIUM. The internal workings of an institute which is a magnificent example of State enterprise were described in an interestng manner last evening, wueu a lecture was delivered by tne Rev. Dr Waddell in the St. Andrew’s Bible School Hail, Walker street. The subject of the lecture was the Battle Greek Sanatorium, America, and the proceeds were in aid of the Church Mission Fund. The hall was packed to the doors, and there was not even standing room. Dr Waddell dealt with his subject in a bright and forcible manner, and illustrated it with a splendid collection of lantern slides, the operator being Mr D. Simpson. The lecturer gave an interesting account of his voyage to America, giving his audience a good idea of the magnificent scenery en route. Dealing with the sanatorium, he said it consisted of three principal buildings. Of these, the floor space of the largest occupied 4g acres. It had been growing very rapidly of recent years, and this accounted for its extent. The whole method of the operations carried on within its walls depended on the laws of Nature, simple and complex. The principles of the sanatorium were that Nature alone could cure. Physicians could not* cure by themselves. Nature bad no “ cure-alls, and short cuts to health, and to grow acquainted with her ways was the only road to physical fitness. Natural food and drink, natural living were the essentials for the obtaining of a sound mind in a sound body The great curative agent at Battle Creek was the water cure, and the facilities for this treatment were the most complete in the world. A fine set of hot and cold baths was provided. Thei bathrooms were beautifully constructed, with every device for the application of water to the, body. Altogether, there were upwards of 200 different methods of application. There were two swimming pools, one under a roof, for use in winter, and the other in the open air, for use during the summer months. Swimming was commended as one of the best means of exercise. Light, properly applied, was also recognised and adopted as a curative agent. There was a sun bath, which was one of the most popular features of the sanatorium. In a large, open-air gymnasium the speaker had, on his visit, come across a scries of long rows of prostrate human forms. They were the men indulging in a sun bath, and, by regular motions of their limbs, allowing the sun to have access to all parts of their bodies. Gymnastics were performed, and then they lay about in the sun, robed in sheets, or played at healthful, invigorating games, such as handball, or went swimming in the pool. The newcomers were easily recognised, by reason of the fact that their skins wore white and blotched, while those who had been in the institution for a time were covered by a healthy tan When it became too cold for the open-air sun baths to bo continued, they were carried on indoors. The sunsjpne was “ bottled up,’’ and liberated for the benefit of the patients, through the agency of electrical devices. Massage was also in "use, and excellent results were obtained from its scientific practice. Half the ailments of modern civilisation, the doctor continued, were caused by indigestion, and the scientific treatment of this eril and its numerous progeny ‘was an important part of the work of the sanatorium. All flesh foods were prohibited absolutely, except eggs, and these were allowed only in a limited degree. Tea, coffee, alcohol, pickles, pepper, spices, and ordinary cheese were also on the “index expurgate mis' ’ of the establishment. The reason was that most of the patients wore suffering from, diseases produced by an injudicious use of these. To supply the food element which those articles contained, nuts and cereals were oaten instead. Attached ' to the sanatorium was a kitchen where food was prepared, and in this the patients were trained, under supervision, so that they should know not only how to get well, but how to keep well. Scientific experiments were conducted, by which patients should know how much of each kind of food they required to keep in health, without over-eating or undor-eatmg. The’ institution was a very large one. It dealt with some VQOO people in a year, and in the summer months had as many as 1000 on its hands. The staff required to look after these was, necessarily, very large, and consisted of some 30C persons. The training school attached to the sanatorium was one of the best in America, and turned out men and women who were efficient, and capable of performing the work required in the very ablest manner. The X-rays formed a part of the treatment, and photographs taken with the aid of the rays were very largely used for the location of diseases, pulmonary and intestinal. . An interesting feature of the sanatorium, Dr Waddell said was the domocratisation of the doctors which -t entailed. A large institution such as this had a great advantage over the individual practitioner, in the magnificent equipment, tno splendid attendance, and the discipline of the patients. The trouble was that people would not come to the doctor, in the ordinary course of events, till their disease was at an advanced stage. But, if there wore institutions of this character in all the principal centres of a country it would bo - different. The State in New Zealand was nationalising its industries, but its greatest industry was the production of healthy men and women, and this industry it coul 1 not afford to neglect. In this connection the speaker congratulated the people of Otago on the splendid response they had made to the appeal for funds for the erection of the new medical wing at the University. Reverting to his subject. Dr ‘Waddell entered a strong plea for the establishment in New Zealand of something to perform in some measure the functions of the Battle Creek Sanatorium. Mon and women had been appointed, ho. said, to teach hygiene to the

children. But it was necessary to go further. It was not sufficient the training to be for a few minutes at a time, and to form & more adjunct to the syllabus. It should bo an important part of school work. Moreover, it was not enough to confine it to boys and girls. There should be a large institution for grown-up f>eoplc, .where all tho resources of science could be gathered under one root, and available for the poor of tho community. Physicians could be employed by this, and, instead of waiting - for people to poison themselves and then come to them for relief, the doctors could see that no food poisons went on to the markets.