DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 5

DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

VISIT OF INSPECTION. Members of publio bodies and a number of leading citizens availed themselves of the invitation extended by the Otago Hospital Board to pay a visit of inspection to the Dunedin Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The reason of the invitation was explained by Mr W. E. S. Knight, chairman of the Otago Hospital Board, at the afternoon tea given in the Nurses’ Home at tlie conclusion of the inspection. Mr Knight stated that May 12 was National Hospital Day. The movement had been originated in America to commemorate the birth of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer in modern hospital nursing. The idea was to familiarise the public with the work their hospital was doing for the community and what further equipment was necessary in order to give better service. Last National Hospital Day they had placed before the citizens the necessity of an up-to-date plant in the radium and X-Ray department. That plant would arrive shortly. This year they desired to stryss the necessity for more adequate provision for cases of infectious disease. A visit was first paid to the basal metabolism department, where Dr Bell, assistant to the Professor of Physiology, gave a demonstration of the apparatus used in the department and explained the system. She said that metabolism ombraced the history of foodstuffs from the tiifie they were absorbed into the blood stream until they, or the produce formed from them, were excreted from the body. From the combustion of the food in the body heat was formed. Whenever the heat was liberated oxygen from the air was consumed. Because of this fact it had been found convenient to measure the amount of pure oxygen that a patient consumed during a given time and to compute from this the amount of heat given off. Metabolism machines had boen devised to furnish the patient with a supply of pure oxygen which could be measured as it was consumed. The metabolism test had become a valuable aid to diagnosis. Some patients suffering from hyperactivity of the thyroid gland (toxic goitre) consumed larger amounts of oxygen, and those suffering from tuberculosis or other wasting disoasea consumed smaller amounts of oxygon than were normal. The system, in short, was the relation of food to the health of a patient. Misa Wells, the dietitian of the Hospital, who has recently come from America, then spoke of the necessity of providing suitable food for patient*, as part of the oourae

of curative treatment. She referred to the methods of cooking in the Hospital, consequent on the lack of space, and said the new kitchen would meet a long-felt want. Dr Reed gave a demonstration with the bronchoscope, and showed how the medical man went about extracting a foreign matter from the body of a patient—the apparatus used being a long metal tube, which was inserted down the throat; another long metal rod with a forceps at the end, which was inserted in the larger tube, and .an ingenious system of electric bulb lighting which enabled the obstruction to be sighted. Dr Falconer, medical superintendent of the Hospital, showed a photograph of the Upper part *T5f a body in which an obstruction could be aeon in the lungs, taken 15 years ago, and stated that Sir Lindo Ferguson had successfully removed the obstruction by the bronchoscope, which, of course, since that time had been very materially improved. Dr Falconer re> marked that they had read only the other day of a Christchurch man who had gone all the way to America to have an obstruction removed from his lungs, and yet 15 years ago, with the instruments then m use, a somewhat similar operation had been carried out in Dunedin. The radiographic department was next visited, and the use of radium and the XRays was interestingly explained by Dr Anderson the radiologist, and Mr Butter“®‘d, the radiograpnor. Two radium needles, confining what might be termed atoms of radium—this was apparent only, u- C u Ur T\’ small size of the needles which Dr Anderson informed his hearers contained the radium—were stated to be worth £350. Photographs of the internal anatomy of patients were shown to demonstrate the remarkable effectiveness of the X-Rays in assisting medical diagnosis. Dr Anderson explained the additions to the rooms which were to be carried out. A demonstration of plaster work bv Dr Kadcliffe Taylor and her assistant, Miss Irwin, was then witnessed, and the Alexan- ** wa f visited. The construction of this ward has now been completed. In answer to a question, Dr Falconer stated that only some six patients who had been attacked by infantile paralysis were showing the effect of the attach in a deformity, and that there wa'e a likelihood that even these six would ultimately throw off the results of the disease. The record of the Dunedin Hospital in this connection must indeed be regarded as a most meritorious one. The visitors were then entertained at afternoon tea m the Nurses’ Home. In connection with Hospital work, quite apart from its medical aspect, very serviceable work is done by Miss M s Nab, under arrangement with the St. John Ambulance Association. Miss M‘Nab is a friend of every patient, and carries out many large and small duties which tend to his or her comfort. She also supplies the relatives of the patients with reports regarding their health and how they are getting on, and altogether proves herself the guide, philosopher, and friend of the inmates of the institution.