TUBERCULOSIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17152, 30 September 1926, Page 9

TUBERCULOSIS

I MATAKAOA ALMOST FREE. ' FORMIDABLE PROBLEM IN N.Z. (Special to the Herald.) TE ARAROA, this day. A report submitted to the, Mafcakaoa Hospital Board ut, its monthly meeting by Dr. Wi Repo, a member of the board, on the important subject of tuberculosis revealed' the fact that there were only (wo active eases of consumption in the county. The doctor urged upon the hoard the necessity of rectifying the highly unsatisfactory conditions under which the patients were living. The following is an extract from his report : " A mailer of general interest I will call your attention to is the cure of consumption cases in the district. In the 1926 report- of the Department of Health the Director-General of Health makes the following comment: ''Tuberculosis continues to be one of the formidable problems. However, the continuation of the downward trend in the incidence and death-rate for this disease is extremely gratifying. The New Zealand rate compares more than favorably with that of the other countries of the world."' " O) the whole I am pleased to say that out of our county population of 1505, there are only two cases of active consumption. For these poor unfortunate patients there is absolutely nothing being done. As long as thny are in that neglected state, they are a source of danger to their healthy relatives and to the public at large. I believe the condition from which these patients arc suffering comes under the purview of the Department of Health. This board, with its limited means, cannot undertake the caro of these cases, however much we may wish to do so. One of these cases is a daughter of -—, and lives in n meeting house. It was in consequence of the occupation of this house by a consumptive family, the majority of whom have died of that disease, that I have recommended your to the close the building against public use. " To bring our intorost in consumptives in the district to a head I would request you to most respectfully draw the attention of the Department of Health, by resolution, to the neglected state of these oases, who, owing perhaps to their indigent circumstances, are shy to call in medical aid. On the other hand, the view that consumption is an incurable disease has had the unfortunate effect of disheartening the poor sufferers, and of discouraging them tn call in the doctor for advice or treatment. The modern view of consumption is that if the disease is fought with determination and' enthusiasm, it can be controlled and in time eradicated."