HEALTH RESEARCH

Evening Star, Issue 19588, 21 June 1927, Page 4

HEALTH RESEARCH

LAST YEAR’S W9RK BIG PROGRAMME AHEAD. [Fan United Press Association.] • HAMILTON, June 20. The health research activities conducted in New Zealand last year were the subject, of an interesting review by the Hon, J. A. Young (Minister of Health) in a presessional address to Hamilton constituents tonight, when he also stated what proposals were 1 likely to be introduced for the incoming year. The research carried out had ! been in the nature of laboratory investigations, and the field of inquiries was principally that of infantile paralysis, rheumatoid anthritis, and goitre; Dimculties had been encountered in regard to infantile paralysis work, and, while considerable progress had been made j in the technique surrounding the pro- | blem, no definite advance could be claimed in the available knowledge of the disease. Rheumatoid nnthritis was a particularly distressing disease, and required special detailed investigation Dr Steensen had conducted laborious fixation tests as elaborated by certain workers in America, and his investigations did not sustain the claims of those workers who supported the idea of diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid anfchritis by serological tests, his findings being more or less of a negative nature. Another inquiry was carried put in conI nection with goitre, and detailed chemii cal investigations ■ were made into the proportion of iodine found under the 1 soil and in vegetables in different parts of the dominion. It had b6en suggested that the range of investigations should be widened during the coming years. The inquiries conducted during the year included an investigation into cancer by Dr Pulton. A sum of £2,200 had been available for the work, the Government providing one-half. Dr Fulton’s report had not yet been completed. A second inquiry had been made into the incidence or tuberculosis in school children, and a harmless test had been applied in certain standards of schools, with the results that a definite conclusion had been arrived at. Anthropometric experiments concerning the weight and height of New Zealand school children had provided a further field of inquiry, and the condition ot rural school children had also been investigated. Proposals for _ the coming year included a further investigation into infantile paralysis, inquiry into the history of hydatids parasites, and the ‘ classification of various grasses in New Zealand from the point of view of pollination in connection with hay fever. It had also been resolved to carry on investigations- into rheumatic diseases and goitre. The field of work would be extended to include an inquiry into the incidence of cancer among Maoris, the establishment of school nutrition classes, the study of pre-school child ; and observations regarding children in contact with tubercnlosis» cases. Further work would be undertaken, if possible, in connection with maternal mortality and first month infant mortality.