PUBLIC HEALTH

Southland Times, Issue 14579, 21 November 1910, Page 6

PUBLIC HEALTH

CRUSADE AGAINST CONSUMPTION. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WEL LIN GTO N, Nbv.' 18. “The general health of the Dominion nas been good,” are the qljeerful words with- which the annual' reportof the Public Health Department for the year ended March 31 commences. There has been a slight increase In the notifications, of enteric fever—63s, as against 561 last year. This increase is almost entirely due to a smart outbreak of the disease in the Wellington district during the early months of tills, year, where the) notifications were 278, as- against 223 during the previous year. Of this number. 65 cases were notified in Wellington and suburbs. The District Health Officer could assign no special cause for this outbreak, but -with good grounds suspicion fell on certain consignments of oysters. The notifications of scarlet fever were less by 917 —being 1266. as against 21.83; and of diphtheria by 46—578 to 621 in 190SM). There were SOQ deaths from turbercuiar disease—viz., pulmonary consumption, 588; and other forms of tubercular disease, 212. A gradual decline is noticeable during the last 20 years In the mortality rate from these diseases, the most noticeable drop being »ln the rate from consumption for the quinquennium subsequent to the initiation in 1903 of an anti-tuberculosis cam? paign. The mean death rate per 100,000 since 1890 is as follows: Other tubercular Phthisis, diseases. 1890-94 .. 82.2 .. 2-1.7 1895-99 ; 79.3 . . 25.1 1900-4 .. 73.9 .. 23.4 1905-9 .. 62.9 .. 24.0

So far this is satisfactory, but a great cleat remains to be done before it can be said that the campaign against this, the most prevalent of ail diseases, is being efficiently conducted. The hospital boards have loyally helped ■the'department during the past: six years. Four sanatoria have been opend, and annexes have been erected in connection with some of the principal hospitals, which, with the Government sanatorium at Waikato, provide a total of IGO beds for the open-air treatment of the disease. The time is now ripe to press the campaign, states the report. The public Js better informed as to the need for precautionary measures, and members of the medical profession are less reluctant to notify cases of the disease than was the case in (he early days of the department. Moreover, with the new Hospitals Act it is possible for boards with the aid of the combined Separtments (Hospital and Health), especially If the boards assume the responsibility of local authorities under the Health Act. to put into operation measures of a more far-reaching nature than was possible under die old law and the old organisation.- where hospital, health, and charitable aid matters were controlled by separate authorities. Briefly, the extended plan of campaign Is as follows: — (t) Rigorous enforcement of notification by the medical profession of all forms of tubercular disease. Though there were 800 deaths, there were only 556 notifications last year. (2) A wider dissemination of literature as to the causes of the disease and its prevention.

(2) Whole-hearted attempts to encourage the A early" case, and also those who had been in contact with consumptives, to seek treatment by means of (a) extension of the out-patient departments of our general hospitals, with a special branch devoted to the diagnoses and treatment of chest complaints. From such a department the patient could bo drafted for treatment to an institution suitable for his case. This department should also keep under supervision patients who have returned from sanatoria. (b) District nurse, •who will keep in touch with the patients treated in the department, and see that they conform to the rules of life laid dowu by, the medical attendant, arrange for the examination of suspected cases, or "contracts,” and keep the outpatient department informed of those who have returned from sanatoria, (c) Medical inspection of school children. A report on this subject is now before the Government. If put Into operation It should prove of great value in detecting early cases among school children. (4) Extension of sanatorium accommodation for the educative treatment of suitable cases. The smaller hospital wards should combine for the purposes of erecting and maintaining such. (5) Provision by all hospital hoards )f suitable accommodation for patients ■ln the chronic and "incurable” stages of the disease, special wards being needed for these classes. (6) Establishment of a “working” sanatorium, whore patients could be taught out-door occupations—farming, dee culture, forestry, the planting of fruit trees, etc.

' (7) By co-operation between public and private philanthropic agencies, whereby a nursing system could be developed at a maximum of efficiency with a minimum of cost, and also a system of relief whereby the dependents on those isolated would be well cared for during the absence of the breadwinner. (S) By co-operation with the Agricultural Department, as heretofore, in matters relating to the control of dairies and dairy herds, and the storage, conveyance, and distribution of milk, Nor must be forgotten the need for better supervision of the slaughtering’and inspection of pigs. There is every reason for believing that hospital boards will gladly work in tho direction outlined, and that the contributory authorities will cheerfully grant the money needed.