ANOTHER WHITE ELEPHANT

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 28 March 1903, Page 2

ANOTHER WHITE ELEPHANT

The Infectious Diseases Hospital

THE representatives of the local bodies seem to have scored very

heavily against the medical experts of tiie Health Department at the conference on Friday last in reference to the proposed, infectious diseases hospital. Several weeks ago, the Department was going to proceed arbitrarily with the erection of a building at l-'oint Chevalier at a cost of £8,500, whether the contributing bodies liked it or not. Now, Dr Mason has come down from his high horse, and is willing to modify the plans so as to bring the cost down to £6,700. But it was not only there that the local bddies' delegates scored.

Al the second conference, the question was asked what diseases the authorities proposed to treat in the new hospital. Hitherto, we have been led to believe that the accommodation was especially necessary for plague and smallpox. To the surprise of everyone, however, Dr Mason said they proposed to provide only for measles, scarlet fever, and diphtheria. When the necessity arose for accommodation for such diseases as plague or smallpox, small sheds would be put up f«r the patients, and would be burned when they had served their purpose.

This explanation simplified the issues considerably. Naturally, the conferenoe was at a loss to comprehend the necessity for going so far away as

Point Chevalier with such common diseases an jneasles, scarlet fever, and diphtheria, which had been conveniently treated at the present Hospital for years before Dr Mason or the Health Department were heard of, and v motion was passed, at the instauce of Mr Walker, affirming the desirableness of treating minor infectious diseases in the present Hospital grounds. With regard to smallpox and plague, Dr Mason was taken at his word, and it was agreed that these diseases should be treated in temporary structures as they occur.

Unfortunately, however, the matter does not rest with the decision of the local governing bodies. The Health Department has the power and is going to erect the hospital for minor infectious diseases at Point Chevalier. Whether the friends of patients suffering from measles, scarlet fever, or diphtheria will risk the lives of these unfortunates by allowing them to be sent all this distance is another question, but the probability is that the infectious diseases hospital, when built, will be about as useful as the powder hulk or Admiralty House. Also, it will cost the ratepayers a pretty penny for maintenance as well as construction. But we cannot expect to have luxuries such as Health Departments and medical experts without paying through the nose for their fads.