INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 February 1925, Page 7

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

POSITION IN HAWERA

ONE MOBE SUSPECT CASE. A girl aged six and a half years wa6 admitted to the Hawera Hospital last evening as a suspect case of infantile paralysis. Her home is in the town. The medical report this forenoon was that the disease had, not developed, but the girl is still under observation. There have been no further developments in the cases of the four children in hospital who are under treatment for paralysis. LAST NIGHT’S REPORTS. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. Forty notifications of infantile paralysis eases were made during the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. to-day. These comprised as follow: Auckland health district 17 (City 5, Takapuna 1, Mount Roskill 1, Papakura 1, Pukekolie 1, Maungaturoto 1, Whanngarei County 2, .Ngaruawahia, Pukemiro 1). Wellington health district 17 (City 2, Martinborough 1, Carterton 2, Bainesse 1, Palmerston North 2, Foxton 1, Hawera 1, Manaia 1, Wanganui 2, Levin 4). Canterbury health district (5 (Christchurch 3, Sumner 1, Cashmere 1, Glenavy 1)'.

Otago health district 0. Cabinet lias decided that no military camps are to be held. AUCKLAND, Feb. 10.

Since noon yesterday 10 cases of infantile paralysis have been reported, there being one in the city, three in the suburbs and six in the country. The total reported this year is 127, including 29 deaths, three in Auckland Hospital being reported to-day. At a meeting of the Auckland Ministers ’ Association reference was made to the prevalence of infantile paralysis, and the association resolved to call the churches to prayer that the bereaved and suffering might be comforted and the widespread trouble abate. DUNEDIN, Feb. 10.

It has now been proved that the suspected case of infantile paralysis, which was admitted' to hospital on Monday, is not suffering from that malady. CARTERTON, Feb. 11. In reference to the three suspected eases of infantile paralysis reported to have occurred at Carterton, the health officer here states that no other cases except the first one of February 8 have occurred. STATEMENT BY B.M.A. AUCKLAND, Fel). 9. An official statement has been made by the Auckland division of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association as to the present state of medical knowledge concerning infantile paralysis. It. is as follows: 1. The cause of infantile paralysis is a micro-organism. 2. Only a percentage of those infected develop paralysis; in this respect the disease resembles diphtheria. 3. A fall or an injury is sometimes alleged to be the couse of trouble. The explanation of this is that in cases where the onset of paralysis is insidious, attention is first called to the paralysis by a fall; in other words, the oncoming paralysis causes the fall. 4. While we are not yet certain how to isolate and deal with the infection microbe and thus prevent the disease, we are certain as to what should be done when an attack of paralysis oe curs. Ro long as any signs of nerve irritation or progressing paralysis continue, the patient must be kept at absolute rest, with suitable splinting apparatus to keep the paralysed muscles in a neutral position. All other treatment- must, ho subsidiary to this. , 5. After the acute stage has passed the proper treatment is massage and the re-education of the muscles. (5. Bv proper and efficient splinting in all stages, and by massage and reeducation,' the muscles, in the great majority of cases, if not actually restored to full function, can he rendered effi cient. 7. In late stages cases that have been neglected or eases in which, from the severity of the disease irrecoverable damage has been done, can he benefited by suitable mechanical operations.