THE WHITE PLAGUE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18029, 18 January 1923, Page 6

THE WHITE PLAGUE.

COMBATING ITS SPREAD.

HOSPiTAC BOARD DEBATE.

A good deal of time was occupied at the monthly meeting of the South/ Canterbury Hospital Hoard yesterday in discussing matters in connection with the campaign against the scourge of consumption.

First of all the Chairman (the Rev. T. Wilson Potts) liad something to say in regard to the proposed Waipiata Sanatorium. He reported that lie had attended a meeting of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee on January 5 at Dunedin, which lasted for five hours, most of the time being taken up in a discussion of details of the plans of the sanatorium with the architect (Mr Wilson). Other questions dealt with were of a more or less routine nature, with tho exception of a proposal that Dr. Byers’s sanatorium should be closed meantime, pending thie erection of two pavilions for male and female patients respectively. He (Mr Potts) objected to this procedufe on learning that the transition period might bo nine months. He pointed out that Dr. Byers’s sanatorium had been purchased because they wanted to make immediate use of the premises to cope with the disease. Southland delegates supported Mr Potts’s view, and it was decided to make temporary arrangements covering a few months with the present staff, which had /worked together for some time, and the members of which were used to the neighbourhood and the premises. He liad not heard the result of these negotiations yet. Dr. Loughnan asked how many places would be earmarked for South Canterbury.

Mr Potts said he did not know the exact number, but ’there were a few places he knew were allotted to this district.

Later in the meeting Mr E. Hardcastle (Geraldine) tabled a motion to urge on the Department the necessity for provision being made for the medical notification of cases of tuberculosis, also for the compulsory detention of cases in the curable stages of the disease, and that adequate provision should bo made for the care of incurable cases. In the discussion which l followed Dr. Loughnan pointed out that the first part of the resolution was quite unnecessary, as there was. already provision for such notification. Ultimately Mr Hardcastle’s motion was drafted as follows: “That the attention of this Health Department he drawn to the urgent necessity for provision being made for the compulsory detention of tubercular cases in the curablo stages; that adequate provision he made for the care of incurable cases; that greater attention be paid to assuring that the milk supply —a common source of tho disease —is free from tubercular germs; and that copies of the resolution he sent to all Hospital Boards.”

MILK SUPPLY QUESTION. Mr Black (Fairlie) seconded the resolution, and dealt with the importance of the milk supply. He had read a good deal about tuberculosis in this respect, and too much stress could non be laid upon it. It was on the strength, of Mr Black’s argument that the clause was added to Mr Hardcascie’s motion. Mr Potts, chairman, supported the resolution. He had been “bailed up by several people who twitted tho authorities connected with the Waipiata scheme with making provision for consumptives, and at the same time doing nothing to prevent the disease. It seemed to him to he foolish to allow any sourco of the disease to exist without steps being taken to eliminate it. He also spoke of the practice of sending incurable persons back to their own districts, and hoped the resolution would he supported by other Boards in order to have the matter dealt with. Dr. Loughnan commended the resolution in its reference to the milk supply. Ho was against tine idea for the ooni" pulsory detention of patients in the earlv stages, and he drew attention to tho Health Department’s provisions for early treatment, which he considered adequate. So long as the Health Department’s treatment was carried out in the early stages there was no menace to the community, and it was not right to have compulsory detention, xo make a mandatory clause 'would have the effect of keeping cases hidden. Mrs Raymond spoke emphatically against persons in consumption being allowed to bo at liberty. She quoted a case of a man who “was dying, on Ims feet ” vet he was allowed to mix with a family of young children, carry them about and nurse them. Tll ° r ° hundreds of people moving about on hotels and public places suffering from the disease, and no attempt was made to check its spread. Mr Sinclair stated that it had been shown that though many cows were tubercular their milk was not Some years ago all cows found to be tubercular were slaughtered, .and some valuable herds had been cut right oua. Members generally agreed that the resolution would bring the minentlv before other Boards, and it was carried, Dr. Loughnan dissenting.