HEALTH NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 17

HEALTH NOTES

TUBERCULOSIS ITS CON QUEST (Contributed by the Department of Health.) ;.;...' ' Disease is not an entity. It is not the result <>f any one factor, but of many, and this particularly applies to tuberculosis. This scourge of mankind, the white, plague, . consumption, 'tuber: eulosis, is the product of sucl) evils as working or living in overcrowded or badly ventilated, dirty, dark .rooms, worry, bad or insufficient food, wrong habits of life, all of which go to form a > vicious circle. . ' -The chief victims of this disease are the undernourished, the ill-fed and overworked among the population, and if it is to be eradicated there must be readjustment and improvement in living and working conditions. The fight against tuberculosis is, in the la3t ani*lysis, a philanthropic and' sociological effort rather than a' medie'aJ. one. Thus the supreme importance of the application of the principles of preventive medicine for the creation of a healthy race. Every factor.' which operates for the betterment of the physical, moral, and mental well-being of the community represents an attack /on this "pestilence that watketh in.-.dark-ness." We .have; reasonable belief that tuberculosis; has existed in the very early, ages, as a disease in man ■in whom it exhibits various forms according to tliu part of the body attacked. We are thus able to divide the population, broadly speaking, into two groups, those in whom the disease is. active and thostf in whom it is not, or perhaps has never been; but we know from medical examinations of numbers of people that there is a third class Which very often acts as a link—a class -which, while not showing definite evidence of, the disease, has the danger'signal up, and this .crass (often, called the. pro* tubercular class) has several representatives: (a) Those-in whom the disease is latent through past infection; (b) those who are physically, going down hill; (c) those who by heredity are-sus-ceptible. They exist in our schools, among our adolescents, and in the adult population.' What is their fate to be? We are told<by ominent authorities that the foundation of health is laid in the care and education of the child from its earliest infancy, nay before, in the health and education of the parent. ''Wo have a well-organised Plunk.et-sys-tem, which has done much for the children of New Zealand, and which deserves their deep gratitude. We have our medical inspection of schools, which is over widening its activities 'for the protection of the child's health. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN. We may hope surely then for the day when the child that'is vulnerable ■■ ■'. to tuberculosis will be thoroughly .. safeguarded. With this object in view, such children will be protected from possible infection in the-homo; and steps must bo taken to safeguard •■the/children of tubercular parents.(see '.'Precautionaryrules against tuberculosis," as. issued-by. the Health Department). Difficult 'as thai problem isj it is one of ■ supreme importance. In some countries, France, for instance, there is a system whereby children are removed from the earo of/ tuberculous parents, and'^reared in a safe euyironincnt. .The;".O"euvro Granxher,'?.'as the-orgaiusatio'n concerned is called,' arranges" for- the '.boar-ding out. of children of■tuberculous'; parents 'among tl French peasantry: ''In this way, notonly is the child removed from probable infection but he ; is'placed among surroundings which are likely to encourage in him that love of country life which is an added protection to him.. The results of this system,, which: has now been operating' in Fraiice :for.-approximately some twenty years,-indicate very definitely, its- wisdom,'-,f of tire" death rate of children of tuberculous parents under this scheme has become dramatically reduced.. Not only is .it essential' to minimise for. susceptible children the risk of-infection,'.but it .is necessary that they be afforded the necessities for healthy, nutrition . and growth—good food, fresh air, sunlight, adequate "rest, and appropriate, exercise. The education curriculum provided for them should be capable of such modification as is'indicated by the requirements of' their delicate bodies. . ■ . ■ • For'tho benefit of children suffering from subnormal nutrition, nutrition' classes have been established in a few schools in New Zealand, and, as the benefit derived therefrom becomes evident, it is hoped, to establish more ,of these classes. The modern type of school building fortunately provides greatlyincreased benefit, from sunlight and fresh' air. The advantage of open-air schools for children of the type we are, discussing is obvious. Fortunately, edu-, cation and health authorities alike advo-. cate more and more the carrying out of' all possible activities in the open air. The scientific world of to-day attributes to sunlight magic powers of health and healing. "Truly, the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun." Yet we of the twentieth century have had to awaken to a realisation of the life-giving power of the sun's rays called by Sir Henry. Gauvain "the'world's great antiseptic." Those who have had the privilege of seeing. the ''sunlight treatment" carried out in' Great Britain and the Continent must have very lively realisation of the value to New Zealand children afforded- by- our • climate, which, though variable and of tea abused, generally provides, even, .-in- .'.-.mid-winter, some Hours of bright sunshine each day. Health camps have-been established already for .physically, retarded children. As a stimulus to growth, as an educative principle, and as a regulator of the nervous; system,., their existence is invaluable, and their extension would be a boon to many delicate children who req'.-iro consideration in regulating their physical output, of energy and eliminating" undue fatigue.' A great improvement in physical and mental vitality of the children composing the health camp is always a striking example of tho benefit to bo derived from the simple routine which provides those facilities for health previously mentioned—fresh air, sunlight, correct food,: rest, and exercise. An important poinfc'in the care of delicate; children .'is attention'to correct posture, since tile proper"; mechanical use of the body is one of bur great aids in ensuring a.proper functioning of the internal organs. ■ : Convalescents from acute infectious

diseases" must be ; carefully watched, and the holiday period of prolonged duration, if necessary,.must bo secured before their return to school. Tho sleeping quarters must be so arranged as to give fullest benefit from frcsli air. Delicate- children, and,' in-, deed, all children gain in vigour and health from sleeping out of doors, as on a sleeping balcony or verandah'arranged to give adequate protection from stress'of weather. Tho value-of fresh air surrounding tho child's: body has been proved'experimentally-.' , IMPEOVED CONDITIONS. Coming to the adolescent population, a great number of whom are engaged in secondary education, we find iii our examination of secondary schools that chlorosis and anaemia,' puce so common a; cause of 'lowered vitality, is\practically non-existent. This is" probably attributable to -improved habits of living, especially to the more hygienic clothing and greater outdoor activities among girls. Yet even here we find children who need special protection from tuberculosis. The question that naturally arises under such circumstances is that of future occupation, and, consequently, environment. for.-: : such children. Wp naturally, consider first' the feasibility, of outdoor occupation's, which undoubtedly offer advantages in the direction of; sunlight and fresh air. Unfortunately, for girls at least, this field is limited, and does not offer much inducement in the way of emolument. . Indoor life, then, of a more or less strenuous nature claims the majority. We do not hear so much to-day'of the love-lorn heroine dying of decline, even in novels, but we do find the tired office people, the tired child-bearing ivoniPii and' many others .ivlio are feeling .the strain of life under conditions 'winch are far from ideal, and who therefore fall an easy_ prey to tuberculosis. It is important that all. those whose vitality has been exhausted by undue physical and nervous stvjiin, which pre-disposes them to tuberculosis, should be treated,ih. time. In the earlier stages of,the disease they pass into our sanatoria and go forth alleviated or healed, having, wo trust, learned what a priceless gift is health—the birthright "of every humanbeing. ■ ■ To prevent consumption,, seek fresh air all the time, sunshine, light, clean rooms, well-chosen food, ample sle.ep, exercise in the open, care of the teeth, clean clothes, clean body and mind, and cheerfulness. , .. ' ' ':. To prevent consumption,-avoid breathing foul air, long hours'.indoors, dark, dirty rooms, careless eating, chronic fatigue, lack of exercise, neglected, decaying teeth, dust and smoke, dissipation, and worry. . ' ' .