HEALTH RESORTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9052, 22 January 1901, Page 2

HEALTH RESORTS.

HOMES FOR CONSUMPTIVES.

VIEWS OF THE CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER.

SCHEMES FOR THE COLONY.

"One thing that will come about soon," said Dr Mason, the Chief Medical Officer, to a representative of the Lyttelton Times, "is a proper organisation with regard to all these health resorts. "People on the Contingent now go to Wiesbaden, Baden-Baden, and other places, not so much on account of the virtue of the bath- waters as of the mode of life they are compelled to adopt. They are counselled by the medical officer to abstain from certain things and to take others. They are told what they .must eat and what they must not eat. They are sent to bed at a certain time, and are told to rise at" a certain time, and they are, m short, treated like children, their whole mode of fife being regulated arid controlled. I behevi . that ninetenths of the cures that are effected at the "Bads.' ore due to regular life and careful supervision by "the medical officers. As a matter of facfy these things have to be done m a methodical manner, as many people, by indisCTimihate bathing, do themselves more harm than good." Dr Mason went down to Professor Bickerton's residence, hear New Brighton, and inspected the paper Houses. It. hod been suggested to him that when a start was made with the erection of sanatoria, Professor Bickerton's idea with regard to sanitary houses might be utilised, as the paper would- be found to be cheaper than wood. Dr Mason was much interested m what he saw, but he thinks that the difference m the cost would hardly justify the erection of the less stable structure, though the idea might be utilised m connection with y separate rooms for invalids.

"These movable rooms," continued Dr Mason, "are coming much into fashion at Home and on the Continent, where the open-air treatment for' consumptives and others is m vogue. The rooms are erected on a kind of swivel, and may be opened at one side. They are turned round to face the sun all day, and the patient gets all the benefits of the sun's rays without being subjected to danger from, draughts. This is one of the ideas we intend to adopt when we erect sanatoria m different parts of the colony. We have not yet decided on any sites, but no doubt the details will be considered m due time. We shall erect no great buildings, like general hospitals, but shall, of course, study the locality and the view. In fact, I intend to suggest that each sanatorium should consist of separate rooms, connected by telephone with a larger building, all being under the direct control of the officer m charge of the institution.

f "We intend shortly to issue leaflets dealing generally with the prevention and cure of tuberculosis, pointing out what a person should, or should not, do. These will be issued as soon as they have received the approval of the Minister of Health."

"I also hope to be abl© to institute health lectures by prominent medical men m the chief centres. This has been done very successful m London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and other places, and there is no reason why it should not be successful here. It is proposed that such questions 'as personal and household hygiene, physical exercises, drainage, and suitable sites for houses should be dealt with m a popular and interesting, manner, the lectures oeing illustrated' by lantern slides. An endeavor will bemade to establish a health committee m each large centre. I know that it will be Some time before all these schemes are carried out, but they embody my ideas at present. In the meantime there must be some arrangement for cases that cannot be treated properly m a general hospital, and special hospitals will have to be erected for chronic cases."