CARING FOR CONSUMPTIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14210, 26 May 1910, Page 2

CARING FOR CONSUMPTIVES.

THE PALMERSTON SANATORIUM,

i _ 'Hie delegates representing the South Canterbury and Ashburton Hospital Boards v. liu visited the proposed Sanatorium lor Consumptives at Pal- ; merston were very favourably impressed with the institution. Leaving Timaru on Tuesday evening Mr F. H. Gillingham (chairman), Dr Gabites another member, and Mr 11. ; S. Russell (secretary) of the South Canterbury Board, with Messrs Luin- : bie and Davies, of the Ashburton ; Board, stayed over-nigiit at Palmer- ' Ktou and were met next morning by representatives from Dunedin—Mr J. ; "Walker (chairman) and other members , of the Otago Board, accompanied by ■ Dr Valintine (Inspector-General of ! Hospitals'), l)r Champtalough (Otago : District Health Officer), and Dr Finch ; (Canterbury District Health Ofiicer). ! A drag conveyed the party out to the site, which is about two miles to the soutliMard of the town, and near the railway line between Palmerston and Goodwood, and the Government will put- in a siding there. Dr Gabites, interviewed by a '-Herald 7 ' reporter yesterday afternoon on Ins return, thus described the visit. The buildings, he said, had been erected in a valley on sloping ground, and would be not" less than 200 feet above sea level, and about threo or four j miles distant from the coast. They j arc surrounded number of fully ' grown trees, mostly gums and pines, i and the place has a very pleasant as- , peet. Formerly the main building was i a farm homestead, but now it has been I altered and improved, to be used as the administrative block. Around it ■ are shelters to house 30 patients, some for one, some for two and some for jfour; and the whole place will be cora- ! plete and ready for use in about three ; weeks' time. Mr Wales, the architect, i before preparing plans, visited the ' principal sanatoria throughout the DoI minion, and so the shelters are of a } lean-to style generally commendable, j though the amount of money available limited the expenditure. The shelters are of wood, match-lined and I varnished inside, and doors and windows form two sides. One fault about them, in Dr Gabites' opinion, was that both ends are complete walls, but the architect proposes to alter this. The roofs are of iron, which is objectionable from a medical point of view, on account of the easy transmission of heat and cold, but felt lining has been inserted and a sarking of boards also. The cost of each shelter (for one) is very reasonable —about £3O. In order that the nurses shall not be inconvenienced by having to walk long distances on stormy nights, the shelters have been erected, at short distances apart, varying from 15 to 20 yards. The soil of the locality is not, all that could be desired, it being of a light clayey nature, whereas a sandy subsoil is regarded as preferable. The climate is dry, in fact that por- ■ tion of the district is considerred one of the driest in New Zealand. The drainage and sewage will be carried away on the most approved methods. Asked what he thought of the sanatorium as a whole, Dr Gabites said' ! that he had a high opinion of it, and | in common with liis fellow-representa-tives, thought it would prove eminently suitable for South Canterbury patients. Only curables are to be admitted at present, though later on | there may possibly be a new- arrangement made, as the Otago Board seemed anxious to make provision for incurables. The site itself, which had cost £lOlO, would easily accommodate extra shelters, the land comprising So acre*. At the outset the sanatorium would, he believed, bp in '"■ho'-to of a junior medical man from the Dnnedin Hospital, but if the number of pnincreased to any assreciable ex-

tent, it would be noccssaiv to engage an export from Nome. Thai, wa . ; lie great tiling in Use cure oi' consumptives, said the doctor, to have lli.-m under tin care of a. man of experience in the proper coiirsfs of Ueafmeni. Then followed fresh air, plenty of good food, and graduated exercise. 5?om« difficulty had been experienced in gettin.c water at the place, but now it is being connected with the- town reservoir, and the Palmorston Council are to charge (id a JOOO gallons for water.

The joint. consumption sanatorium committee elected hv the South Canterbury and AshbuiTon Boards wilt meet ill the secretary's office (Ttmarti) to-day, to discuss the whole matter.