“THE WHITE PLAQUE.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 19 October 1926, Page 3

“THE WHITE PLAQUE.”

FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS. THE DOMINION’S ADVANTAGES. “'l'uberculosis ranks high, fourth in the iits of causes of death in New Zealand,” said Dr. MoKibbin, Director of Public Hygiene, in the course of his recent Health Week lecture in Wellington. ‘‘Last year 684 persons died from this cause. Of these 560 were deaths from chest tuberculosis or consumption, the incidence of which is markedly influenced by our environment, the house wc live in, the place we work in, and the quality of the food wo eat. “New Zealand has now the second lowest death-rate from this cause in the civilised world, second to South Africa, and probably we owe this in considerable measure to our sparse population, our comparatively sunny and roomy houses, and our ample food supply. As, however, our population increases, particularly that of our cities and towns, the need of town-planning asserts itself. You cannot have a healthy city without planning. That is manifest in 'Europe, where cities have grown with as many as 40 houses to the acre, and badly placed at that. This technically is known as ‘overcrowding of houses on space,’ and is associated with an even more deadly evil, namely, the ‘overcrowding of persons in houses.’ “New Zealand can profit from England’s experience. She has a comparatively open field to plan in. This country has passed a Town-Planning Act, requiring all boroughs to .prepare a plan. It l'emnins for the people and their local authority representatives to see that wise plans are laid. HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND GOOD FOOD. “Health housing and environment — sensible clothing and nourishing food—r help in the prevention of every form of tuberculosis. We have an amide supply of nourishing food in New Zealand, and care is taken to regulate its purity. It is for the housewife, however, to make full use of our best foods in the feeding of children. Remember that fresh food

when it is available is much better than canned or preserved. Give the children plenty ot milk and green stuffs such as salads; washing in water will remove any occasional danger of worms or hydatids. Give raw apples unpeeled or lightly peeled; boil or roast potatoes m their jackets. The cream of this tuber is near the skin. In feeding growing children go for wholemeal or brown bread in preference to white. MEANS OF INFECTION. “Last year an additional 124 persons, children mostly, died of other forms of tuberculosis. About half of these were cases of tuberculosis of the brain membranes; in the others the bones, joints, intestines, glands and so on were affected. Tlie experience of older countries has shown that about one quarter ot these deaths, that is about 30, were probably due to the conveyance of tuberculosis direct from infected cow to child by means of the milk supply. About 30 then of a total of 684 deaths were probably due to the milk supply. It is impossible to follow up and check all such cases throughout the Dominion, hut every now and again, particularly in the city hospitals, we get clear pi-oof that certain children have been infected from the cow. A bacteriologist can tell from certain tests whether the disease is of human or cow origin, and from time to time such, cases are followed up and the dairy herd dealt with. “The modern belief is that, as with human beings, the majority of cows recover quickly from attacks of this disease provided they are suitably, fed and cared for. The great thing is to ensui-e that their milk is not used for human consumption unboiled, when there is even a doubt that they have contracted tuberculosis. As with human beings, so with cows. Fresh green foods, root crops and cereals are better for health than artificial or preserved fodder, and the open .fields are better than oiolonged housing. The New Zealand environment is healthy for animals as well as human beings, provided ordinary care is exercised. “Let us remember that we all have decided natural advantages in New Zealand, and if we plan wisely in country and town we can offer these to hi any • additional British subjects, reap the advantages of an increased population and not lower out standard of health.”