RHEUMATIC SCOURGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1938, Page 10

RHEUMATIC SCOURGE

PROBLEM OF SOME MAGNITUDE. A plea for a wider realisation of the seriousness of the rheumatic scourge was made at the International Conference on Rheumatic Diseases at Bath by Professor Stanley Davidson, of the University of Aberdeen. The problem of rheumatism, he said, had not been solved by the voluntary hospital system in the past, and would not be in the future. This had failed to provide an adequate supply of trained men, bed accommodation, or physiotherapeutic facilities. Nor could British spas and their attached hospitals solve the problem, since they were mainly utilised for the treatment of diseases in the chronic stage, where physiotherapy was of particular value, and not in the acute stage, where rest and sanatorium regime were essential. Nor could they meet the requirements for early diagnosis, since this could be made only in the patient’s home. For estimation of the ulitmate effects of treatment spas could not compare with local treatment centres, because of the attendant difficulty of following up cases. The magnitude of the problem and the high cost involved necessitated provision by local or national authorities of rheumatic clinics under the charge of specially trained, full-time medical officers, and additional institutional treatment where necessary. By these means they could secure early diagnosis and the sub-division of cases into those suitable for treatment at home, in a clinic, or in a hospital or spa, together with regular post-grad-uate instruction for the family doctor.