INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

FLY AND MOSQUITO PERIL. SUBURBS AND THE HEALTH CAMPAIGN. FIVE FRESH CASES TO-DAY. The campaign commenced by the City Council against the spread of the outbreak of infantile paralysis, which has already claimed over 300 victims in the city, suburbs, and country districts, should arouse keen interest amongst the various suburban local authorities, and a desire to co-operate with the city in making the cleansing process a thorough one. Steps in this direction were taken by the Epsom Road Board last night, and in a circular issued by the Public Health Department the help of the local bodies in the war upon dust, flies, and mosquitoes, which are looked upon as the most likely carriers of the disease, is invited. RESULTS FROM WATERING. The circular points out that, apart from the spread of the disease by throat ! and nose discharges, dust and flies are : possible agents, and it has been recorded that epidemics in three different cities have abated after the proper watering of the streets and footpaths. "I would point out that an inefficient watering of i the streets and pavements may do more ! harm than good, in that bacteria require moisture in a certain temperature, and an inefficient watering, which is only sufficient to lay the Just, may cause the bacteria to become more virulent and the dust more dangerous," continues Dr. Hughes, in the letter. "It has not been absolutely proved that dust has spread the disease, but it is reasonable to believe that the above eases recorded are not mere coincidence!-. It is well known that flies carry a number of germs of disease both in their leg 3 and bodies, and that they are a menace to public health. It may be that they also take part in the spread of the present epidemic." , "The Department will greatly appreci- ! ate the co-operation and assistance of local authorities in dealing with the dust nuisance by efficient watering, and the removal of those insanitary conditions which assist in the spreading of flies," concludes the circular. WHERE SUBURBS CAN HELP. The theory has been mooted in many quarters that there is some association between the plague of mosquitoes from which the district is suffering just now and the epidemic, and in this connection the vigilance of the suburban bodiia in a. cleajising campaign, having particularly for ita object the removal of rub- | bish and of stagnant water, and the ■ supervision of stables, etc., would proI bably be exceedingly effective. In regard !to the watering of the streets, however, : the main difficulty of the local' bodies, as i pointed out by Mr. Oliver Nicholson. I Mayor of Mount Eden, to a "Star" representative this morning, is the cost and scarcity of suburban water. In districts where householders are pavini anything from 1/ to 1/8 per thousand gallons the use of water on the scale suggested by the Public Health Department is an important consideration, particularly whan there is no positive evidence that dust is the cause of the spread of the epidemic. LOCAL BODIES MOVING Inquiries amongst chairmen and members of local bodies this morning revealed that there is. a keen desire on the part of those having charge of the j sanitary administration in the suburbs Ito follow the example of the city in rej moving all avoidable sources of danger. j In several instances special I the cleansing of the district have already been made. The arrangements for the cleansing | campaign in -r.t city are now well in | hand, and to-day the preliminary work lin connection with the inspection and | disinfection of sewers, cesspits, etc., commenced. The general cleansing of the city by night will be started" tonight, and will be continued throughout the continuance of the spell of hot weather. The possibility of the City Council co-operating with the Health Department or other institution in a position to give advice in instructing the public in simple household precautions against the spread of the disease seems to be foreshadowed by an observation by the Mayor (Mr. J. H. GuasonV to a "Star" j reporter this morning. "There is no I question that the public, knowledge on j the elementary principles of sanitation i and public health is not what it should be, and some educative effort along these lines would be to the benefit of the public and of the city. I intend to bring the whole matter before the City Council in order to see what steps are considered practicable." TO-DAY'S NOTIFICATIONS. Five fre3h cases to-day, all from the country districts, brought the total number of notifications to 302. THE CLOSED SCHOOLS. An anomaly at the present time exists in connection with the decision of the Auckland Education Board to close the public schools, for while the children are not relieved from attendance at the ordinary day schools they are still : expected to attend for the periodical instruction at the manual and technical schools, with the result that there is a danger of any possible good effects of the closing of the schools being destroyed. It is understood that at this afternoon's meeting of the Education Board the Finance Committee will recommend to the Board that the .lay school at the Technical College be closed-, and that the position in regard to the manual schools will be gone -into. Meanwhile preparations are being made for the thorough disinfection and fumigation of the primary schools. KING'S COLLEGE TO OPEN. At a meeting of the Board of Governors of King's College last night, it was decided to re-open the school a week on Friday. It is understood that all the boys who were seized with indisposition a few day 3 ago are progressing favourably, and have not shown sisns of paralysis. EPSOM BOARD'S ACTION. At the meeting of the Epsom Road Board last evening, a circular letter was received from Dr t. J. Hughes, District Health Officer, referring to the precaution necessary in connection with the epidemic of infantile paralysis. Mr Wood, chairman of the Epsom Board, said that water for the roads could not be obtained for less than 1/ per 1,000 gallons, though he realised that the health of the district was to be considered before the expense incurred in watering the roads. Mr Macfarlane moved that the Tram-way Company bt communicated with on the subject" the tetter sent to be an inquiry for information as to the use of the company's sprinkler and the terms for same.

HXNTS TO PARENTS. PLUNKET NURSE'S ADVICE. Hygienic commonsense was the keynote of a striking address delivered recently by Plunket Nurse Walton at Hastings on the subject of infantile paralysis, and the fact that over 200 persons are reported to have been present suggests the possibility of a similar method of instructing the public being employed in Auckland. Nurse Walton's advice may be epitomised as follows: — Keep your doorsteps and backyards clean and free from rubbish. Cleanse the sinks with caustic soda and remove dirt before using disinfectants. All foods, especially milk, should be kept covered. Milk should be scalded in boiling water, cooled quickly, and be kept cool. Make children brash their teeth after every meal, and gargle their throats with Candy's fluid or other antiseptics. Mothers should swab the throats of young children. Rub and scrub the children daily till they are pink—not merely bathe them. Give children nourishing meals, but stop intermediate feeding. Orange or apple water in the morning will tend to keep the blood healthy. Children should sleep in well-ventilated rooms, and infanta should be kept out of picture palaces and crowded streets, particularly at night time, when they should be in bed. A CASE AT HASTINGS. (By Telesrapn—Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. A three-year-old boy has been removed to Napier Hospital suffering for in fan tils paralysis. THE CHRISTCHURCH CASE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The case of infantile paralysis has been definitely diagnosed as such. Every precaution to prevent the spread of the disease is being taken by the authorities.