INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 31, 6 February 1925, Page 7

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

NEED FOR RESEARCH. MINISTER STANDS FIRM. CABINET mill CONSIDER GRANT. At the recent meeting of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association the Minister of Health, Sir Maui Pomaro, gave bib personal support to tho motion passed urging the Government to extend its efforts in the diagnosis and treatment of infantile paralysis by proxiding a fund to pursue bacteriological and experimental research by medical practitioners. Subsequently' a statement xvas circulated tn the'effect that the Minister considers there xvas no call for any special grant and that there xvas no need to take the measures suggested in the motion. The Minister gives an emphatic denial tn the suggestion that he does not approve of the motion, and that he lias gone back on his word. The position is exceedingly important, and the incorrect report has caused a. great deal of anxiety. particularly amongst the officials of the Auckland centre of the 8..M.A. As reported in yesterday's ".Star,'' Sir Maui Pnmare undertook tn give his support to the resolution which xvas adopted by the conference as follows: •'That this meeting, xvhile recngiii.-iiie the excellent work that the Health Department, is doing, is of opinion that further research xvork offers the only means of establishing the. early diagnosis and successful treatment nf infantile paralysis; and urges the Government to extend its efforts in this direction by providing an adequate fund to pursue bacteriological and experimental rea search by medical practitioners. The meeting also suggests that the Government should offer an adequate prize fur the most helpful original essay on infantile paralysis.' 1 The "Star further stated in its report that the doctors had suggested that half a dozen of the most able, men should bo turned on to rcasearrh xvork, and that, in viexv of the Minister's promise that the request for CJovernment. assistance would receive most favourable consideration, it xvas likely that there would be a considerable extension of research work. This conclusion, the Minister stated to-day. xvas a reasonable one.

To the doctors in conference, the Minister gave the assurance that the. Government xvould spare no expense in the matter, and that Dr. fiilmotir, of the Auckland Hospital, would soon be devoting his whole time to investigation, and that Dr. Lynch, of Wellington, xvho xvas already on the work, would collaborate xvith him.

The report to which exception is taken ' is an alleged statement by the Minister that "there is no call for a special grant for the purpose suggested by the Attck- ' land branch of the 8.M.A.," and that i there is "no necessity for the special measures" suggested in the motion. "I never made such a statement.'' stated Sir Maui Pomare emphatically. "It is most unfair and stupid to attribute such remarks to mc. lam putting the resolution before my colleagues, and I am satisfied the proposals will get every consideration from Cabinet."' Attack on Department. The Minister said he desired to replyto certain criticisms that had been levelled against the Department of Health and himself. At Wellington Hospital Dr. Wilson, the medical superintendent, had informed him that they had been able to meet the epidemic fairly and squarely, and had been fortunate in having bud the xvhole time of Dr. Lynch and an efficient staff for the purposes of research and investigation. These experts had assisted the staff of the hospital in a cuncentrated effort to solve the problem, and they had been able to come up to the mark :n the effective use of the serum. Dr. Wilson had also added that there was a sufficient supply of serum noxv to ensure its use in every case deemed suitable, and so mr it xvas believed its effects were beneficial, although it xvas too early to speak with any definite certainty. The superintendent's concluding remarks were that everything had been done that xvas done to cope xvith the situation in any similar epidemic in anyother part of the world, and that the hospital authorities xvere grateful for the encouragement and help given by the Department and its assurance of further support. Work in Auckland. Sir Maui Pomare also pointed nut xvhat- the Department bad done in the Auckland health area, and said that the particulars supplied to the "Star" by the medical officer for the district, recorded in this issue, xx-ere the result of instructions issued by his authority from the Health Department's headquarters. It had been suggested to him that the Auckland Hospital should place cases of infantile malnutrition in the Karitane Home in order to make room for infantile paralysis cases. The difficulty, it xvas explained to him. xvas that there was not .sufficient accommodation at the Karitane Home to enable such an arrangement to be carried ~ut. He visited the home, accompanied by Sir Trubv King, and made arrangements for . the provision of tents, etc. at the Uovi ernment's expense. lie bad also gix'en • the assurance that any expense incurred ■ xvould be dealt with in a liberal spirit i by himself.