TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTIVES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12001, 19 October 1906, Page 7

TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTIVES.

Another Sad Case.

(Par United Press Association). ■ ■ DUNEDIN, October 18. A sad case came before two public bodies to-day showing the urgent need for the establishment of a hospital for incurables, especially in the case of consumption. A young woman in a very advanced stage of consumption was discharged as incurable from the Government Sanatorium at Cambridge, Auckland. She was afterwards for some time in the Wellington Benevolent Home. Recently she came to Dunedin to keep house for her brother-in-law and naturally her condition did not improve. The house is small and not too sanitary, and three children are in the place. The case was reported to the Health Officer, who could do nothing beyond writing to the chairman of the Charitable Aid Board, stating that provision must bo made. The Sisters of the Churches made application to have the woman admitted to the hospital, but under the by-laws that could not be done. The case was brought before the Benevolent Trustees and the Salvation Army. The former offered to pay <£1 per week if a place was found where the woman could be taken and attended to ; but that is where the difficulty is. The woman is too weak to be taken any distance, and no suitable house and person to attend to her are so far forthcoming. The matter also came before the Hospital Trustees, but that body considered if anything was done it must be by the Charitable Aid Board. However, it was resolved to appoint a committee, consisting of three trustees and three members of the medical staff, to report as to the best means of dealing with advanced cases of consumption. The Charitable Aid Board will meet to-morrow, but its hands are tied. The only site for an infectious diseases hospital approved by the Chief Health Officer belongs to the Defence Department, and though apparently quite valueless and useless the Defence Department has always declined to part with it.