THE WHITE PLAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2450, 15 March 1909, Page 2

THE WHITE PLAGUE.

COM BATING CONSUMPTION. A STATE SANATORIUM. If there is any disease that Dr G. M. Mason, Chief Health Officer, is interested in stamping out more than any other it is the great scourge of all races; consumption. Before he left for Auckland on Saturday Dr Mason had -a talk with a “Times” reporter as to what tlie Government was doing to combat the disease', and said that Te Waikato sanatorium, on Maungakawa Hill, near Cambridge, Avas doing splendid work, and that many of the patients, in fact, added the doctor, tlio majority of the patients, left tlie institution cured, or on such a iway to recovery that they soon got well and strong. “At tlie sanatorium,” -added the Doctor, “the fresh air treatment is closely followed and the ,patients are made .to lead a simple and natural life. In the warmer weather all the inmates go about bare-footed and wear very little clothes, tlie men only a shirt and pair of trousers. The sanatorium -lias a main building with a large verandah dining-room-, and the patients sleep in specially built houses that let in a maximum of fresh air and sunshine Avith-out allowing draughts. The patients are not put to any compulsory Avork ; but they aro all taught that if they aro to get aa'cll they must not worry -or to use a medical term (swop symptoms.’ For those reasons they are alloAved an almost out of door life. They can roam about the spacious grounds, tend their own little garden plots, potato patches, small -orchards, fowl runs, do little odd jobs that suit them, at their own inclination only. If they do not feel inclined for work on any particular day they can please themselves. They are provided Avith plenty of wholesome food and Avith plenty of books, and they have an orchestra of their oa\-ii and gii'c most enjoyable concerts when visitors are at the institution. “The Health Department lias found a prejudice against employing ex-in-mates of the ’Sanatorium,” said the doctor, “and by arrangement .with the Lands Department a tree-planting station has been opened on the Waiotapu Hills, where we send as many men as possible. The men are all paid for their labor and there is a sister in charge to attend to their needs. They are doing excellent AA'ork and I am going to discuss the advisability of extending tlie Avork with the Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Public Health.” Asked as to how the Pure Food and Drugs Act was operating Dr Mason said tho measure had been a greatsuccess, and that manufacturers were readily meeting the wishes of the Department. “The success of the Act is not to be gauged by the number of prosecutions that take place,” lie added, “because the Department recognises that prevention in a peaceful way is better than going to law.”