(iCbr ~nntg ~frirRn
The JOll.Jl'nal of the Sozl.Jth African .1{edical uissocirttion.
VOL, VI.-PART 9.J JA.NUARY, 1899.
CONTEN'l'S.
PAGE.
CAPE MEDICAL COUi\CIL-Claremont Sanitarium ~ur.es
-Kew Reg"istration-Gomplaint-.\ )fedical Advertiser ...
NATAL MEDICAL COuNCIL-Tuberculosis-Post-Mortem
Exarninations-Bubonic Plague-Small Pox-Quarantine ...
MEETIXGS OF )lEDlCAL SOCIETfES-Transvaal Medical
Society .. . ... ... ... .. . ... ... " 196
ORIGINAL ARTICLE-A Case of Elephantiasi~ (Illustrated)
allow him to appeal' at the meeting,
to represent certain facts that they were not sufficiently
cognisant of. He was sure that the Council \vould be
only too glad to welcome him.
Dr. Anthony then addressed the meeting. He stated
that his chief object was to lay before them facts which
had been brought to their notice previously, but not in
the detail that he would like. He was aware of the
fact that letters were not altogether satisfactory,
and he had felt that the Council was really not aware of
the facts of the case. He knew that it was generally
under tood that Sanitariums were 100ked upon as mere
health resorts. He maintained that they carried on
regular hospital work, in additiou to which they had
many· cases which could not be induced to enter a
hospital ordinarily so called. He had facts to prove
that, and he thought it was nothing- more than they
might expect that a statement should be made of the
internal working of the institution. Now, in the first
place, it was both a medical and "urgical sanitarium. It
was true that there were many cases of ordinary nerve
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diseases. He might state, in addition, that one of their
chief objects was to train nnrRes, and he w0uld read a
. little extract from the organisation papers, which were
191 published in the OajJe Times "ome ime ago, in reIat i0n to
the question of taxation, because they would remember
194
that the place was taxed, and he maintained that it \Va a
philanthropic institution, and was therefore exempt
197
from taxation. The mattel' was thoroughly gone into by
the Supreme Court, and it was decided in their favour.
One important object was t" • • in and send ont
missionary physicians and 'h.~_ _"oy nurses. He then
proceeded to read an extract from the constitution
of the organisation of which the Sal1itarium \Va" a
branch. They had imported experienced individnals
who had spent years in the work of training nnrses, a at
Battle Creek, where they had from 1,000 to 1,.jOO
patients, and there were some 60 operations or more per
week, and there were about -lOU workers. N,nv, this
institution at Claremont was exactly on the 'ame basis.
rfrne they were in their infancy; but, as to the training',
they were precisely in the sallle position, and olle of
t heir chief objects was to train nurses of each ,:;ex. 1£
that object were not attained they would lose a great
part of their work. It was said that the Sallitariuill
was a mere hydro. )/ow, was that so? If tbey looked
into hydros in Europe they would find they did not
train nurses or take urgical case, and had no wards,
but had simply hydropathic treatment; whereas at
Claremont they had gone to great expenditnre iu
surgical instruments and appliances, and had imported
help at great expense. For instance, Dr. Linusay
was broug'ht out here expressly 0 train nurse,.:. She
had had Z7 years' experience in that iine, and would be
here for 18 months until other physicians were qualified
legally for this field. They had had regular lecture,.:,
daily classes, and also practical work. rfbey had hall
700 patients during the ZO month that the institutir)ll
had been opened.
The President: Is everybody a patient who is
admitted. there?
Dr. Anthony replied in the negative, hut said th're
had been 71 distinct and different diseases, and hey
performed over 100 operations, which inc1ulh'rl
rectal operations, dislocations, fractures, amputation,.:,
abdominal opera.tions, tumours, eye surgery, &c. Tlw
question was, taking the urgical work they had done and
the variety of the diseases treated in that insti tutiou,
would that be ufficient to mee the requirements laid
down in the Regulations framed. by the Council (
:Moreover, the Council said tha there mus:t be not lr~s
 192 SO TH AFRICA r MEDICAL JO AL. JAXl:AltY,

than 12 bed. He maintained that they did much more

surgical and medical work than could possibly be done
in a hospital of 12 beds. They had a capacity of about
] jO, and the question seemed to him to be: ·Was there
not sufficient medical work done there, and a sufficient
variety of diseases, to meet the requirements of this
Regulation, which only called for 12 beds, whil t the
Sanitarium had a capacity for 150, although now they
had only 75. They had a surgical operation-room, two
wards, and various treatment-rooms.
Dr. Hewat: Your operation wards are kept entirely
for medical and surgical cases?
Dr. Anthony: Yes, certainly, we have a male and female
ward. I am under the impression that the members of
this Council have not investigated the matter fully, and
I should very much like to see you there.
The President: I have been there several times.
Dr. Anthony: And I wish that more would come.
Proceeding, he said it was urged that they had only one
physician there; but, supposing they had more than 12
beds, was it not often the case that they !;lad one physician
in charge and doctors attending from outside. There
was a standing invitation in the lJferlical J01t1'nal itself
asking medical men to end cases and to attend them
personally, because the institution was quite open to any
medical man to perform operations and use the nurses.
Then the work is purel)' an African work, and no funds
from the institution left this country. In conclusion,
he again asked what was required in order to have full
facilities for the training of nurses? there was any-
thing- required, they would make every effort to supply
the deficiency. He disclaimed any idea of forcir.g him-
self upon the Council, but he appeared personally to
make the matter known in full, so that there could be no
misunderstanding about it.
'llhe President said that they were all very pleased to
see Dr. Anthony, who, however, must be thoroughly
aware of what really an organised hospital meantin the
sense
 J.\~U.iRY, 1 99. OU/}'H AFRICAN MEDICAL JOUR~AL.

urprised at the number of invalid -not ordinary ones

~but
 1!)4 JA~T.\RY: 1 9.,

ho ·pital. But it wa well known tha many patient

would ch enully enter an in titution