INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 February 1925, Page 4

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

ANOTHER KAPONGA CASE. SUSPECT DECLARED CLEAR. The Hawera. girl who was under observation at the hospital as a suspect wise of infantile para lysis, has been declared, clear and discharged. However. a child of two years was admitted last night from Kaponga. definitely -suffering from the disease, so that- there are now five patients under treatment at the hospital. So far one or two offers have been received from recovered eases of blood for the preparation, of the -enim used iit treatment, but the hospital authorities would be pleased to hear from other volunteers, especially adult-’, sine? it is possible to draw off more blood from an adult than from a child. LAST NfGHT’S DEPORTS. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION,) WELLINGTON. Feb. 11. The paralysis notifications for the 24 hours to 9 a.in. total 22, compared with 40 yesterdav. MASTERTON, Feb. 11. A case of infantile paralysis was admitted to the Mis tartan Hospital today from Marti nborough, making the total 26 since the outbreak. GISBORNE. Feb. 11. A suspected case of infantile paralysis. a boy aged ten years, 'yhose parents reside at Mangapapa, was admitted to the (‘oof.. Hospital to-day. It is understood to be of a mild character.

POSITION IN T.IRAN.VKI

NO SCHOOL BEFORE MARCH

The necessity for taking every, precaution with the children was stressed by the chairman of the Taranaki Educatio nßoard (Mr. S. G. Smith) when at the monthly meeting yesterday he said that the board would leave no store unturned in the direction of doing all possible for the children’s welfare. Members agreed that it would bo suicidal to open the schools before March, and it, was decided that no recommencement of the school routine would take place before March 2, and ii the position had not improved before that time a, further extension would be considered. The advisability of making an early start with the compulsory i efresher courses for teachers was questioned by several members who expressed a doubt as to whether it. might not be dangerous lor the teachers, to congregate together. Alter, some discussion the date for the commencement of the courses was fixed for February 2.3, but it was decided to telegraph the Health Department in order to ascertain if they had any objection to the holding of the classes. WH AT THE TROUBLE IS. SUGGESTIONS FOR PREVENTION.

A clear and simple statement on infantile paralysis was made at a Rotary Club luncheon by Dr. W. Gilmoiir. bacteriologist at the Auckland Hospital (says the New Zealand Her* aid). Dr. Gilmour said that the disease was a very dread one because of its dire consequences a’nd in the eases of those who recovered practically all were maimed for life. The disease .attacked principally the spinal cord, where there were small delicate nerve cells which were principally involved. When these were destroyed the connection between, brain and muscles was lost and muscles became paralysed. The disease attacked only a limited part of the spinal cord. If it attacked the lower part, then the legs were affected, if the upper part the arms suffered, and if the middle of the cord then the ; muscles of the chest were affected and these cases were nearly always fatal. The disease was a mystery for a long time, and it was then found to lie infections to some extent. The question of food and! drink had been excluded, as had also that of biting insects and the occurrence at the same time of the disease in animals.. Where an epdemic spread it did so along the line of travel, highways and railways Some individuals although they never suffered from anything became earners. Tito difficulty was not in' finding the microbe, but in getting rid of it, as it was called, the virus, could be recovered from the spinal cord, brain and also nose of a paralysis case. It was probable that- the virus was carried in the nose," and that from nasal secretions the virus wa.s carried from onA person to- another. Children who went through an attack of infantile paralysis had protective substances in their blood which could be iPecl for treating other cases. The difficulty was to get enough, blood. Dr. Gilmour concluded with a word regarding methods of prevention. Owing to the fact that the virus was carried in tho ?

nose, it was necessary that the mucous membrane of the nose and throat should be kept* in as healthy a state as possible. Any irritant would only make matters worse and lie warned those present not to use anything which would irritate the membranes.. Dr. J. S. Purdy, chief health officer at -Sydney, also .stressed this point. Nothing would keep the membranes in a more healthy state than sea bathing or the use of saturated salt solution.