11.—31

The generous provision by the Taranaki Maoris of a mobile X-ray unit is worthy of emulation in other districts. The radiological investigation into the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis among some two thousand office and factory workers and secondary-school children in Wellington as carried out by Dr. Marie Buchler for the Medical Research Council emphasizes the value of such surveys. (3) The Clinic : Hospital Boards which have not established tuberculosis clinics at their principal institutions are being urged to do so without delay. The Travelling Clinics under the supervision of Drs. Short, Francis, Mclntyre, and Kidd continue their excellent work. The development of small surgical units at sanatoria is being considered. (4) The Sanatorium : Sanatoria remain an integral part of the system for treating tuberculous cases. They are places where patients of good prognosis may obtain adequate treatment and be taught how to look after themselves in future life. The northern half of the North Island is entirely lacking in this type of institution, while patients from the East Coast, Wellington, and Southland areas are handicapped by delays in finding accommodation. (5) After Care : 'in the past tuberculous patients discharged from sanatoria or hospital have largely been left to fend for themselves. There is a need in New Zealand for some organization, preferably of a voluntary nature, which could help these patients when they are considered fit to take up some form of work. Sympathetic consideration and understanding on the part of the employers and the public generally are necessary to make patients feel that they can safely take up their proper place in society. Towards this end Dr. Taylor is working for the formation of a National Association of lay people helped by interested medical men. The National Associations for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, London and New York, are carrying out magnificent work in the rehabilitation of such cases. (f) j District Nursing Services : In view of the fact that approximately four-fifths of the known tuberculous patients are living in their own homes it is necessary that increased district nuising services be provided to control these patients adequately. Fjfforts are being made to meet this demand. Venereal Diseases.—The following returns covering the figures supplied by the Venereal Disease Clinics in the four main centres indicate, although incompletely, the trend of the respective diseases in New Zealand :—

Number of Persons dealt with for the First Time at the Venereal Disease Clinics and found to be suffering from Syphilis.

Number of Persons seen for the First Time at each Venereal Disease Clinic and found to be suffering from Gonorrhœa.

An increase in the number of venereal cases under present-day conditions would not be unexpected. However, information received from Army and Navy sources reveals a decided in the position during the past twelve months. The improvement may bo attributed to press publicity and the Department's activities in bringing infected women under control. The Department has a working arrangement with the various branches of the armed forces, including the United States Forces, whereby the probable source of infection of all cases treated by the Medical Officers at camps, &c., is reported to the Department, and under the machinery now in existence rigorous following up is immediately instituted by the Medical Officer of Health, and thus potential sources of infection are brought under early control It is apparent that there is a definite improvement in control, and the recent legislative provisions have enabled a realistic approach to be made to the problem. Certain minor amendments to the Venereal Disease Regulations 1941 are contemplated, particularly to deal with those who infect others while under treatment. Cancer. —It is recognized that the increasing age-constitution of the population and improved diagnosis are responsible in some measure for the higher death-rates of cancer in recent years. There is evidence that an increasing number of patients with early forms of cancer are being effectively treated at the cancer clinics organized in the main centres by the New Zealand Branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society. TU Travis Eadio-Physics Institute at the Canterbury University, which is controlled by the Society, proposes to extend its activities to the supervision and control of radium and the numerous X-ray machines in New Zealand used for diagnostic purposes. Hitherto its work has been restricted to the supervision of X-ray machines used for deep therapy. . A conference of representatives of the New Zealand Branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, the Government Statistician's Department, the Medical Research Council, and the Department was held with a view to the improvement of statistical information in regard to cancer.

3

. . — — - —— j Auokland. Wellington. Christchurch. Dunedin. Total. — Total. M. F. M. P. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1938 .. 54 34 15 15 18 10 10 .. 97 59 156 1939 59 43 18 25 19 . 11 12 5 108 84 192 1940 .. 63 37 77 58 12 8 22 .8 174 111 285 1941 .. .. 102 57 96 63 29 17 33 6 260 143 403 1942 .. 70 78 53 71 18 11 20 6 161 166 327

Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. Dunedin. Total. Total. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1938 520 168 329 61 336 99 118 71 1,303 399 1,702 1939 " 399 141 333 53 328 88 91 90 1,151 372 1,523 1940 " 474 118 310 53 286 79 78 89 1,148 339 1,487 194! " " 410 183 373 42 271 72 81 79 1,135 376 1,511 1942 .. .. 312 286 236 63 181 69 75 73 804 491 1,295