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permitted of a secondary reaction. In a sanatorium one avoided that absolutely. In general practice it would appear that tuberculin could only be given when plenty of time was available to attend to the patient. The Chairman took it that in the opinion of the Conference the efficacy of tuberculin treatment was assured, jn'ovided there was a careful selection of cases, and that it was administered by those who had special experience of its use. The following motion, moved by Dr. Blackmore and seconded by Dr. Champtaloup, was unanimously carried : That this Conference desires to express the opinion that it is advisable, in the interests of patients, for medical practitioners who propose giving tuberculin treatment to make themselves conversant with the properties and action of tuberculin, as its injudicious use is likely to do great harm. Employment of Consumptives at the Sanatorium. The Chairman stated that the Conference had already dealt with the employment of consumptives at the farm colony, but not at the sanatorium. He thought the matter a most important one for discussion, and that an expression of opinion from the Conference would be most useful. The fact that we were living in a very sentimental age would mean that we would be much handicapped in all measures of this description, and he knew that whatever was done in this direction would be subjected to a great deal of criticism. He was aware that a great deal of work was done by patients at Dr. Blackmore's sanatorium, and he believed that Dr. Lyth had initiated a similar work by patients at Palmerston South. He called attention to Dr. Blackmore's remarks at an earlier stage of the proceedings as regards the need for impressing upon the public that the project was not a money-making one. He thought this a most important point. Dr. Lyth thought it should be very clearly laid down that the work done by patients in a sanatorium, though useful, was really part of the treatment. He found that patients had no objection to doing work for the sanatorium if it were made clear to them that they were doing it for their own benefit. Dr. Blackmore thoroughly concurred with this. He looked upon the work the patients did as a most important part of their treatment. The Conference resolved, That in the opinion of this Conference graduated work and exercise is a most essential part of the treatment of consumption, and that most of the domestic work of a sanatorium can with advantage be done by the patients. Proposed by Dr. Lewis, That it be a recommendation of this Conference that facilities be provided at sanatoria with a view to the employment of the patients in useful occupations. Carried. Open-air Schools. Dr. Blackmore moved the following : That, as open-air teaching of children is a measure of considerable importance in helping to control the spread of tuberculosis, the various Education Boards throughout the Dominion be recommended to earnestly consider the advisability of establishing open-air schools, or open-air teaching in connection with the present schools; that their attention be also drawn to the extreme usefulness, from a health point of view, of open-air residential schools in suitable situations, where delicate children and those showing evidence of incipient tuberculosis can be sent for shorter or longer periods, and where their lives can be regulated and their studies carried on under medical supervision. Dr. Blackmore did not think it was necessary to say very much in support of this motion, except that there were a considerable number of children at the present time who were in a poor state of health —one could not say definitely that they were tuberculous, but just the class of child to become tuberculous —and it was far better that something should be done for that child before it actually developed consumption. A very great deal could be done by seeing that during the daytime, at any rate, they had abundance of fresh air. There were a number of children who would with advantage to themselves be kept at school, provided they could be kept out of doors, but it certainly would not be to their advantage to send them to school knowing that they were going to be shut up all day. With regard to the second portion of the motion, Dr. Blackmore stated that this would benefit those children who could not, for financial reasons, be sent to the seaside, &c.; but by five or six months spent in a proper institution, where they would be properly fed and properly looked after, they would be so built up that they would have every chance of growing into strong men or women, instead of either dying or spending their lifetime as chronic invalids. Dr. Blackmore's motion was seconded by Dr. Hardwick-Smith and carried unanimously. Night Shelters for Consumptives. Dr. Hardwick-Smith, in advocating these shelters, recommended that they be erected at the seaside or in the suburbs of a town, and that they should be for those patients without suitable homes, and who were not in a position to afford treatment in an institution. The patients would lead a semi-open-air life —they could go to their ordinary occupations during the day and return to the shelters at night—and they would be taught how to live and how to take proper care of themselves. It was agreed that no resolution was necessary, but that the matter was one that could very well be considered. The Conference was of opinion that the shelters should be under the Hospital Boards.
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