CHILD PARALYSIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 101, 2 May 1938, Page 8

CHILD PARALYSIS.

" NEW EXPERIENCE."

POSITION IN VICTORIA. USE OF "IRON LUNG." Although the infantile paralysis epidemic in Victoria lias subsided, there arc hundreds of patients in various hospitals and institutions throughout the State receiving "after-care" treatment. This information was given this morning by Mr. IT. Barrett, manager end secretary of the Melbourne Children's Hospital, who is a through passenger by the Mariposa for San Francisco. On an official world tour, Mr. Barrett's mission is to gather all available information in respect to children's hospitals and their administration, as a preliminary to the building of a new children's hospital in Melbourne.

"We had 2100 infantile paralysis cases in Victoria during the epidemic," said Mr. Barrett. "Lack of proper accommodation soon became a major difficulty of the authorities and, as ferae the Melbourne Children's Hospital was concerned, it was found that if the increasing number of children were accommodated in this institution there would be nr> room for the patients that had not contracted the disease, but who needed attention in the hospital. The result w<is the opening of the metropolitan infections diseases hospital of 800 beils for infantile paralysis cases during the infections stages of three weeks. Patients Graded. "At the end of that period the children who showed no further signs of paralysis were sent home as fit. Those who showed elight signs of the disease were eent home to be treated by their parents or guardians if the conditions were satisfactory. Children who had the disease in a severe form were placed in the children's hospital or other institutions for special treatment."

Mr. Barrett eaid an "after care" committee was set up of which he was secretary, and its first duty was to ascertain where hospital accommodation could be procured. Arrangements were made with various institutions for 600 beds and these were still in full use. The experts were of opinion that eventually—after a year or 18 months—Bo per cent of the patients would be completely cured.

"The epidemic was a new experience to the hospitals," said Mr. Barrett. "Many of the patients contracted parelysie in their respiratory regions, and we had to obtain 30 respirators constructed on the 'iron lung' principle. At times all of these cabinet*? were in uee. That will give some idea of the severity of the outbreak."

Mr. Barrett eaid that the first case reported in Melbourne was towards the end of June last, and of the 2100 cases reported throughout the State the Melbourne metropolitan area dealt with 1400. The epidemic was officially declared over about a month ago. While the majority of patients were fourteen years of age or under, a fair number of adults had contracted the disease.

"Millions of pounds have been epent in infantile paralysis research work throughout the world, but no definite conclusion as to its origin hae been arrived at." eaid Mr. Barrett. "It is definitely known, however, that it is a bug. Aβ far as treatment is concerned. Victoria has done everything that has been attempted by other countries."