SANATORIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7002, 18 January 1901, Page 1

SANATORIA.

» — HOMES FOR CONSUMPTIVES. WHAT IS DONE IN EUROPE. VIEWS OF THE CHIEF HEALTH * OFFICER. SCHEMES FOB THE- COLONY. j -PROFESSOR BIOKERTON'S SANITARY" HOUSES. "One thing that wall' con^a about sooau," said Dr Mason, the Chief Medical Officer, to a representative of this journal last evening, "is ai proper orgainisatikxn 'with regard to all these heaKh resorts." The conversation had passed; from the Hammer Hot Springs, which were visited by Dr Mason on Wednesday, to modern methods of regaining or maintaining good health. > " People on the Continent now go to Wiesbaden, Baden-Baden, and other places, not so much on account of the virtue of the bathwaters as of the mode of life they ore compelled |to adopt; They are coumselled by the medical' officer to abstain from certain tbingß and| to take others. They are told what they 'must eat and what they must nob eat. They are sen* to bed at a certain time, and are told to rise «t a certain time ; and they are, in short, treated like children, their whole mode of life ibeing regulated and controlled. I\ believe that nine-ten'fchs of the cures that are affected at the ' Bads.' aire due to regular life and careful supervision by the medical officers. As a matter of fact, these things have to be done in a. methodical manner, as many people, by indiscriminate bathing, do themselves more harm than good." Last evening (Dr Mason weoiifc down fco Professor Bickertoai's residence, near New Brighton, and: inspected the paper houses. It had been suggested to him that when a start was made with the erection, of sanatoria, Professor Bickerto'n's idea with regard to saoiftary houses might be utilised, as the paper would be found to be cheapei ithan wood;. Dr Mason was much interested in what he saw, but he tfbinks that the <ffifierenoe"dh -the cost would hardly justify the erection of the less stable structure, though the idea might be utilised m connection with" separate roams for "* invalids. "These movable rooms," continued./ Di M'asou, "are coming, much into fashion at Home and oh the Continent, where the operj-air treatment for consumptives and others is im voguie. The rooms are erected on a kind of swivel,, and may be opened j at one side . They axe turned round to i face the siui all day, and the patient gets all j the benefits of the sun's rays without being subjected to dariger from draughts. This is one of the ideas .we intend to adopt when we erect sanatoria 'in' different parts of the colony. We have not yet decided on any sites, but no doubt tihe details will be considiered in due .time. We shall erect no great buildings, like genera! hospitals, but shall, of co-arse, staxd'y the locality afldi the view. In fact, I intend .to suggest that each sanatorium should consist of separate rooms, connected by telephone with a ilarger building, all beljigg under the direct control of tfljg i«fncer -in-' eh'arge' , of the' institution. We intend shortly to issue leaflets dealing igenerally wfttfo the prevenltiton' and cure of tuberculosis, pointing out what a person shoilild 1 , or should not, do. These will be issued] as soon as they have received the approval of the Minister of Hfeajth." "I also hope to be able to institute healt'k lectures by promimenit medical, mem in the chief centres. This has been done very successfully in London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and other, places, and flhere is no reason why it should 1 ' not be successful here. It is proposed that such ' questions as personal and / household hygiene, physical exercises, drainage, and suitable sites for houses', should be dealt * with in a popular andi interesting mourner, the lectures .being illustrated; by* lantern slides. An endteav-our will be made to establish a HeaLish 'Committee in each large ■■centre. "I kaiow tlhat at will be some time before afll these schemes are carried out, .•but they emibody my ideas at present. In the meaiutime, theae must be some arraaigement for cases that cannot be.trea4ed prof perly in a general hospital, and special ' hospitals will have ,to 'be erected for chronic cases." i