THE HOSPITALS CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3256, 29 June 1911, Page 5

THE HOSPITALS CONFERENCE.

TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION.

“A SCOURGE TO HUMANITY.” LPER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, June 28. A further lengthy discussion took place at the Hospitals Conference today on the treatment for consumptives. The folloAving resolution Avas eventually passed: “That this conference, fully recognising the scourge consumption is to humanity, and the laudable efforts of the Health Department to cope Avitli the disease, begs to assure the Depart-, ment of its readiness to heartily cooperate in any scheme of a preventative or curative character that the Department may de\bse.”

FURTHER DELIBERATIONS. A SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS. Dr. Valintine, the Inspector-General, read a paper on “The Incipient Mental and Delirium Tremens Patient,” urging that such cases should be treated in hospitals in their early stages, as they could often be restored to health without having the stigma to bear AA r hich attached to the patients themselves and their families from the fact of their being in mental hospitals. The Conference did not agree with Dr. Valintine, and passed a resolution recommending the Government to make provision in those centres Avhere required for receiving-houses in connection with the mental hospitals department for the treatment of incipient mental and delirium trements patients. Other resolutions passed Avere to the following effect: — - “That the Government be requested to introduce legislation giving Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards the power of detention over inmates of benevolent homes, hospitals, sanatoria, or other institutions under the Board’s control, in cases where the Health Department considers it necessary in the interests of the community.”

“That legislation be passed as soon as possible transferring the control of contagious diseases directly from the Department of Native Affairs to the public health officers.” " “That in order to conserve the Maori race the question, of maternity and infant mortality should be dealt with directly by responsible officers of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and, as further guarantee of this, the native race should be brought with Europeans under the Registration Act, and this should be applicable not only to deaths but also to births and marriages.” “That homes for indigent imbeciles and destitute blind children "mentally able to benefit by being taught to read, under £he Braille or any other system, he provided by the State.” “That this Conference affirms the necessity of founding a State school for girls similar to that established, for boys at Otekaike, and a State home with powers of detention for women of feeble character , whos proclivities are a source of danger to the community both from a physiological and moral point of view.” “That the Conference recommends th Inspector-General of Hospitals to circularise all Hospital Boards with regard to the successful working or otherwise of the eight hours system as applied to nurses.”