S.C. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3743, 23 May 1901, Page 4

S.C. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

Tho monllily mooting of Ilia Hospital

■" ’ Charitable Aid Hoard was held on 1 tiosday, ‘‘resent: —Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), Mooro, McLaren, Hole, and Walker. Apologies were made for Messrs Dean and Gillingham.

Mr McLaren asked that tho returns of patients scut to local bodies be sent monthly, and that tho addresses and fullest information be sent, so that tho local bodies may be enable to identify the persons. —It was agreed that the returns be sent monthly.

The chairman stated that the balance in hand was £938 IBs Gd, and tho payments to be made wore— Waimato Hospital. quarterly payment of .121. I Ss 10d ; Timaru Hospital, .£2OB 17s lid ; charitable aid, £195. Dr Munro had sent a circular to tho medical practitioners of the district asking how many chronic cases they were acquainted with : the replies received were to tho effect that there were too few cases to justify any special institution for thorn in this district. Hr MacGregor, InspectorGeneral, had visited the hospital and Old M on’s Home since last meeting, and left some verbal instructions w'th the secretary, that all tho drains should be lifted and the joints cemented ; that the nurses’ quarters were very uusatisff.ctoiy anda new building should bo erected for them as soon as possible. An operating room is not so much needed as provision for the nurses. As regards the barracks, Hr MacGregor merely remarked that ho found them satisfactory. The hospital, returns showed that there were 32 patients in tho hospital at the beginning of the mouth, and IT were admitted ; HI worn discharged, leaving IB in the hospital and 37 out patients wore treated. The chairman said be was absent at Christchurch at the time the returning troops reached Timaru, and ho was glad that Dr Munro had thoughtfully invited Mrs Boddou to the hospital to tea while tho troops were having luncheon. A circular had boon received from tho Government regarding tho treatment of cases of delirium tremens, which the board would consider satisfactory. They were all pleased that Colonel Jowsey, had returned safe and sound, and with honours. He had a good deal of business to do ye;, in connection with Hu; Contingent, and did not propose to resume, bis duties yet. Several of tho members spoke endorsing tho chairman's remarks re Colonel dowsey. Some discussion look place ou tho subject of the nurses’ quarters, a new operating room, and the ‘trains, members agreeing that the drains were not in bad order. No resolution was passed.

Replies wore rend to a circular sent out by the Resident .Surgeon to tho medical practitioners of the district, requesting them to furnish information regarding the number of persons “ suffering from diseases of a chronic or incurable nature, and suited for treatment in an institution specially adapted for the purpose.” Jbe circular of Hr Mason, Chief Health Oltioer, was also seal.

Hr J. 8. Hayes, Temuka, replied -. “ 1 cannot call to mind any such eases in my district among tho poor.”

Hr Hislop, Geraldine, wrote : ” There: are several such in the disvrict, but their friends are quite aide and willing to look after them. I presume it is only pauper cases that are wanted. There are only three or lour such cases 1 believe at present.” Hr Hornibook, Fairhe : ”1. am nor acquainted with any eases coming under the class you mention.”

Dr Teevau, Geraldine, replied that thorn was only one case in his care, an old man SO years of age, a recipient of charitable aid, -suffering from cardiac disease. Dr Cruikshank, Waimato, wrote that there wore two suitablo case..- now in tinhospital, a woman of GS r-ulVnriug from chrouie heart trouble, and a woman or over 70 suffering from senile decay, in connection with this inquiry, Dr Mum-0 stated that, he bad refused an application for the admission af a person suffering from consumption, as this is now officially declared to bo an infectious disease, and the patient could receive no benefit from hospital treatment. It was, ho explained, not the case of an indigent person, and private arrangements had boon made of a more satisfactory nature than could be provided in the hospital for such a case. A discussion took place on the general admission of such case.-, some members holding that they should not ue refused pending- the establishment of a Government sanatorium to meet the noods of several districts J'hechairman thought that as such cases had not been rntusen before, the rule should not bo altered without full consideration, andhiftev a. good deal of discussion, the chairman and Messrs Moore, McLaren, and Hole were appointed a committee to inquire into and report on the matter. With regard to chronic and incurable cases generally, further replies to enquiries are awaited, but it was agreed that there are not sufficient in this district to warrant the of a special institution for them ; but ono should be established, say for all Canterbury. The circular from the Colonial Secretary asking the board to make temporary arrangements—ponding the erection of special establishments by the Government —for the treatment of cases of delirium tremens, the Government paying all expenses, was road and approved, and the Resident Surgeon was authorised to deal with such cases according to Ids discretion

A claim from the Ashburton Hospital of two items of £l 9s and £3 3-, alleged to havrn been incurred for liospital treatment by two men from Geraldine in August and September ‘ last, was refused payment pending proofs that the men were from Geraldine.

An account of £4 incurred by the police for tho burial of an indigent stranger in Timaru was objected to, as! be board, if asked, would have provided tho funeral by their contractor at £i 12s (id. It was resolved to inform the police that the secretary must he communicated with before such debts are incurred, or tho board will refuse to recognise them.

A few charitable aid cases were dealt with, and the board rose.