INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 150, 21 March 1925, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

UPWARD CURVE IN CHART THE MATTER OF PERMITS TOTAL N.Z. CASES TO DATE A sudden rise in the number of cases of infantile paralysis recorded was to be noted in the records of the Health Department up till 9 a.m. yesterday. In the Wellington health district a total of 12 cases was recorded, and in Canterbury 9, while Auckland, which had a clean sheet the day; previous, had five cases. The details of the four health districts were as follow :— Auckland.—Arapuni, 1; Ihames, 1; Kopuaraki, 1; Kerepehi, 1; Hamilton, 1; total, 5. Canterbury.—Christchurch City, 5; Wallington, I; New Brighton, 1; Ilornbv. 1 ; Timaru, 1 ; total, 9. Wellington.—Gisborne, 1; Napier. 2 ; Feilding; 3; Palmerston North, 4; Glen Orona, 1; Motueka, 1; total, 12. Otago.—Nil. Total for the Dominion, 26. Permits for Homeward-bound Children Only. The Health Department wishes it clearly understood, in view of correspondence published yesterday, that permits will be issued to children to travel only in the case of those returning to their Irmes So averse to the granting of other permits are the authorities that it is urged that, in all cases of children desiring permits, application be made by letter well in advance of the required permission, which will be granted only in the most urgent cases. Children under 16 years of ace, who wish to travel from the North to the South Island, must make application to the Wellington office during office hours, or at the Union Steam Shin Company’s office on the ferrv wharf between 7 and 7.45 p.m. for permits Children under the age wishing to travel from Nelson or Picton to Wellington must make application to Dr. Keith at Nelson, or Dr. Gregg at Picton. both of whom will be in attendance (for the convenience only of peorde travelling late) at the wharf 30 minutes before the' Wellington boat leaves. Interim Percentages of Fatalities. Interesting figures as to the results of the malady upon the community are furnished by the Health Department, Positive cases onlv, notified from November 25 to February 28, are dealt with. The Canterbury figures are confirmed onlv till February 16, and all cases notified since February 23 have y r et to be confirmed:—■

Positive diagnosis to Feb. 28. Combined Mortality

Dominion ... 641 101 15.8 The unconfirmed figures to March 16 ate as follow:— Combined Mortality District. Cases. Deaths. Percent.

Dominion ... 829 127 15.3 The New Zealand mortality rate to February 28 has been 15.76 per cent., and to March 16 15.32 per cent.

Proportion of Cures. While the Health Department is unable at present to furnish an Indication of the proportion of total cures to positive cases reported, inquiries at the Wellington Hospital show that the results so far do not give anv great cause for alarm, bearing in mind that.it may take many months before'a definite pronouncement can be made regarding cases serious at present. "We have had 130 cases altogether.’’ said Dr. Wilson. "Of these 19 died. The present number in the hospital is 47, 64 having been discharged. In all the cases that have been admitted, 30 show signs of paralysis or weakness. Some of these have been recent cases. Of these 30, 18 are affected with mild weakness onlv, and have every prospect of complete 'recovery. The remaining 12 cases are badly paralysed, but not necessarily permanently. That is to say, that '9 per cent, of the total cases are badlv paralysed, a large proportion of which were badly paralysed on admission. Pronlogued treatment, possibly for twelve months or longer, will be necessarv before such cases can be classed as definitely permanently paralysed. A recovery in the majority of these 12 cases is anticipated, but time will be necessary before a definite statement in regard to them can be made.

CASES ELSEWHERE TWO deaths at nelson. By Telegraph.—T’”* -0 ’ Aeanc'uTTON Nelson, March 20. Two fatal cases of infantile paralysis have been reported. One is a married woman from Motueka, and the other a girl, aged eleven, from Gleuhope. Murchinson, March 20. The first case of infantile paralysis in the Murchinson district was reported on Tuesday from Arik’, u boy aged twelve years. Yesterday a case was reported from Gleuhope. Both have been taken to Nelson Hospital. Dunedin, March 20. There is one suspect case of infantile paralysis in the town district, a boy twelve years of age. Two suspects reported yesterday gave negative results. The serum treatment is distinctly good, only a small percentage showing after paralysis. Later.;

A boy, two and a half years of age, whose ease was notified this morning, died before admission to the hospital. Another case that of a boy (twelve years of age) described as a mild case was also reporte . to-night. Christchurch, March 20. Nine new cases of infantile paralysis are reported, including five in the city; two in one family. Eleven convalescent infantile paralysis patients were transferred from the Christchurch Hospital to the Bottle Lake Hospital this morning. Nineteen were similarly transferred previausly. Dr. Fox, medical superintendent of the hospital stated this afternoon that there were 75 infantile paralysis patients remaining in the hospital but there were no vc’-v serious cases among them.

Wanganui, March 20. One case of infantile paralysis wds reported here to-day.

District. Cases. Deaths. Percent. Auckland .. .. 176 31) ' 22.2 Wellington . .. 365 51 14.0 Canterbury . .. 88 9 10.2 Otago .. 12 2 16.7

Auckland ... 208 48 23.1 Wellington .. •137 58 13.3 Canterbury .. 160 17 10.6 Otago 24 4 16.7