INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Evening Star, Issue 22525, 18 December 1936, Page 8

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

SEVERAL MORE CASES REPORTED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IK OPERATION Four more children were admitted to the Dunedin Hospital during the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. to-day, two of them being lightly paralysed and two disclosing symptoms which required observation. Generally it is regarded as a favourable circumstance that the number of admissions were fewer than for several days, but there is still need for strict precautions being observed to prevent a spread of the outbreak. There are now over 40 children in hospital, and the disease is still confined to the city and suburbs. Dr T. M'Kibbin, district ■ medical officer of health, again expressed gratification that parents were co-operating in, observing the desired precautions. Ho explained that tho principle underlying tho procautions was the fact that if an infection were allowed to spread freely its virulence increased. Any time that could be gained _ in holding back the spread of the disease, therefore, was highly valuable. It was not thought possible, ho added, that cases existed which had not been accounted for, as the local doctors were all exercising a keen vigilance, and parents were readily _ summoning advice in cases of juvenile ailments. Details of the admissions to Dunedin Hospital for the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. to-day are: Light (a fortnight old), 1 girl; mild paralysis, 1 girl; for observation, indefinite, 2 girls. These four admissions bring the Total number of children in hospital to 43, and the total definitely paralysed to 19, including the boy who died. Other cases are regarded as positive without any paralysis. Inquiries were being freely made of the department, said Dr M'Kibbin, and advice was being given. Many people were asking if it were advisable to travel, and in certain circumstances were informed that it was not desirable. Various causes of tho outbreak were being suggested, it being considered in some cases thatrtho disease was a seasonable one. All over the world, however, outbreaks had occurred at different times and during different seasons. There had been outbreaks in Canada when snow was lying on tho ground. Most of the theories advanced were untenable. Parents whose children displayed any symptoms should at once consult a doctor. RAILWAY BOOKINGS. Up till a week ago railway bookings from Dunedin, from the close of the schools’ vacation until after New Year, were particularly heavy, and the indications were that the seasonable rush of traffic would be greater than any hitherto experienced by the local office. During the past few days, however, a considerable number of reservations had been cancelled, and, due to the warnings issued by the Health Department, many parents who had arranged to go on holidays with their families have now decided to stay at home, or, at least, Jbo postpone travelling until it is safer to do so. The Dunedin Sunshine Social Club’s excursion to Riverton on, January 10 has been‘cancelled. SPECIAL RADIO BROADCASTS. In a laudable effort to provide daily entertainment for children, who, through force of circumstances, are confined to their homes and are consequently finding it difficult to amuse themselves, tho National Broadcasting Service has given its local station, 4YA, permission to include special light programmes in its afternoon schedules. These are being broadcast between 2.30 and 3.15 every afternoon, and include recordings of light music, obvious humour, etc., calculated to amuse the child-listeners. The supply of suitable records available to the station is large enough to allow the special programmes to be carried on for a period of some weeks. FIXTURES POSTPONED. As a result of the epidemic, it has been decided to postpone the opening of the Central Mission Health Camp at Company’s Bay, which was to have taken place to-morrow. The Rev. L. B. Neale stated yesterday that although a great number of invitations had been issued, and extensive preparation had been made for the opening, it was felt that, to co-operate with the health authorities, it would be desirable to cancel to-morrow’s function. It is probable, if the circumstances are favourable, that the opening will bo held some time in February. The Moeraki Centenary Committee has also decided to postpone the centenary celebrations of the port, which were to have been held on. Boxing Day and the two following days; until Easter Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, March 27, 28, and 29. CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL. Juvenile patients in Dunedin Hospital will not this year receive the customary visit from Santa Claus. At last night’s meeting of the Otago Hospital Board, it was decided, _ on account of the prevalence of infantile paralysis to abandon the annual Christmas tree function which was to % have, been held next week, and arrangements will be made to distribute gifts to the children in some other manner. OTHER DISTRICTS CLEAR. Up to yesterday there had been no notification of any infantile paralysis cases in tho Invercargill area. No cases have been reported in the Hawke’s Bay district. Earlier in the week a brother and sister were admitted to the Napier Hospital for observation, but the acting medical superintendent (Mr A. G. Clark) was able definitely to report yesterday that they were .not suffering from the disease. He said that at the present time there were no grounds for fear of an epidemic in that district.

PREVIOUS SUFFERERS VOLUNTEER AS BLOOD DONORS [Pcu United Phess Association.! AUCKLAND, December 18. Elaborate preparations have been made by the Health Department of Auckland in collaboration with the Auckland Hospital Board to _ control any possible outbreak of infantde paralysis in the Auckland district. No cases or suspects have so far been reported. Pamphlets dealing with the symptoms and giving instructions have been circularised to members of the medical profession of the Auckland district. The pamphlet follows the lines of that issued to practitioners during the epidemic of 1925. There has been a gratifying response to an ap]ieal by the hospital board to people who previously suffered from tfao disease to volunteer as blood don-

ors. By 10 o’clock this morning there ■were 12 volunteers and it is expected that by 'to-morrow morning there will be treble that number. NO CASES IN NORTH ISLAND [Pek United Press Association,] NAPIER, December 18. , Mr G. A. Maddison, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, was today congratulated by the Minister on closing all schools in view of the outbreak of infantile paralysis. The speaker said that no cases had been reported in the North Island, and he was pleased there were no- cases in Napier. At the same time all gatherings of children had been cancelled as a precaution. HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ADVICE SHOULD HOT BE QUESTIONED [Pek United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 18, The view that it was ill-advised for medical men, who were expressing only their individual views, to throw doubt on the advice of the Health Department, whose experts were trained to give advice on the prevention of the spread of epidemics, was emphasised today by the president of the Canterbury branch of the Crippled Children’s Society (Dr J. L. Will). Dr Will was commenting on the opinion of the medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital (Dr Craven) that the Health Department should open as many children’s camps as possible, instead of closing them as a measure for prevention of the spread of infantile paralysis. Dr Will said that if the health camps were already established and the children were in them the society would agree with Dr Craven’s view, but medical authority was very definite that the gatheung together of children at times of a possible epidemic was bad. As the health camps wore scattered over the country, it was possible for one carrier of the disease to form a little nest of infection in a country district and so spread the dissease in a locality that might otherwise have remained immune. RECOGNISED PREVENTATIVE. In epidemics throughout America and Eimland medical scientists have recommended Urotropin Compound as a preventative against Infantile Paralysis. Do not delay—secure a bottle immediately; 3s 6d and 5s 6d. Obtainable only from Gallien’s Pharmacy, Gardens, Dunedin. Phone 12-028 for free city delivery.—[Advt.]