The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 7000 Weekly. MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1903.

Waikato Argus, Volume XV, Issue 6115, 14 December 1903, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 7000 Weekly. MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1903.

The formal opening by Sir Joseph Ward of the Sanatorium at Maun* gakawa must be looked upon as the first serious effort made in this colony to deal with that dread and dreaded disease consumption, and 3 more beautiful and ideal spot for the purpose could not have been selected. It is of course true that the proportion of patients who can be dealt with at the institution ia very small compared with that of the number of sufferer.", but this affords no sufficient argument why the Sanatorium should not be established. It will give an object lesson to the whole population as to the beat means of treating the disease, and on these grounds the. excursion organised on Friday was a happy thought on the part of the authorities. It is of course impossible that patients can be as effectually treated in their own homes as in an institution such as that at Maungakawa, but there is nothing to prevent the treatment being applied in a modified degree in private residences. The great desideratum is fresh air, and this ean be secured to a much pi-eater extent than is at present the case. Authorities are unanimous that the greatest danger of propagation is from the sputum of those suffering from the disease. This fact, impressed upon the whole population, should lead to care in this matter both by sufferers and their friends. Incurables are not admitted into the Sanatorium, and those who are found after admission to be so are discharged. What is to be done with these people ? Manifestly if they are not isolated there is no hope of stamping out the disease. Dr. Mason in his speech pointed to the fact that an amendment to the law last session was made with the object of inducing Hospital Boards to erect annexes or separate buildings for the reception and treatment of patients. This of course will entail a considerable initial and yearly expenditure, which will fall upon the contributing bodies to the hospitals selected, and through them upon the ratepayers. We have not yet received a copy of the amending act, but presume from the speech of Sir J. G. Ward that it is only contemplated to erect buildings for the reception of patients in districts selected on account of special salubrity of climate or special fitness for the treatment of the disease. If this be the case, as a matter of common justice tho whole cost of the buildings and the cost of maintenance in excess of tho fees collectable should be drawn from the consolidated, revenue, iu other words that the whole population should contribute. The Minister told us that no less than 800 deaths took place iu this colony last year, due to consumption ; estimating each of these lives as worth to the country £3OO, a loss is shown of £240,000. These figures are most eloquent in favour of an organised campaign against the most fatal disease which afflicts humanity. The cost would be very small indeed by comparison. Dr. Mason predicts that if wise regulations were made and these strictly enforced, that in two generations tho disease would be of the past so far as the native population is concerned. The Doctor speaks from his own experience and that of others. The disease is now proved to be curable, therefore any investment we muy make in order to treat it is not of a speculative nature. Wo share with .Sir Joseph the opinion that the Hospital Boards throughout the country will do all in their power (o assist the Health Department in this matter, provided the contributing bodies to each are only called upon to carry their fair share of the monetary burden. The ravages cf the disease have been patent to many past generations, and the only paliative recognised was to despatch the patient, if sufficiently wealthy to bear the cost, to a warmer climate, with the result that in some cases they only lingered in pain and suffering for a year or two longer than otherwise would have been the case, Want of sufficient fresh air is the main inciting cause of the disease, and it has now been ascertained that an abundant supply ia a cure if the cases are treated with sufficient

promptitude. Oar apology, if one is necessary, for devoting so much of our space to this question must be that the object lesson afforded by the opening of the Maungakawa Sanatorium should as far as practic-. able be thoroughly impressed upon the whole population. To sum up the position, the disease kills a considerable percentage of our population ; each case is likely to spread the disease. Therefore the known cure should be applied and the isolation of those not curable strictly enforced, equally as in the case with the plague, small-pox, scarlet fever, etc., which are little if any less communicable than consumption. It is our pleasing duty to congratulate the Government on having moved in this direction.