PUBLIC HEALTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 December 1924, Page 3

PUBLIC HEALTH

WELLINGTON CtTY AND SUBURBS

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

In the Wellington City and suburban area during, the past 12 months there has been no undue incidence of infectious disease until the 25th of last month when' some cases of infantile paralysis were reported, and notifications of suspected cases still continue to be received, by the Health Department, chiefly from the following areas: Hutt, Petone, Newtown, Berhaoipore, Island Bay, and during the past we;k, several cases ‘Have been reported from Eastbourne. Since the 25th of last month there have been 46 cases in the city and sub urban area, and nine deaths.

PRECAUTIONS Although the outbreak is not regarded by the Health authorities as alarming, all possible steps are being taken to deal with the disease, and prevent its spread, and the following instructions have been issued :

“Anterior Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis).—This is an infectious disease which attacks principally babies and young children, although adults are not exempt. l lt begins with irritability' of temper and drowsiness, accompanied by headache, vomiting, fever, and stomach and bowel troubles. Paralysis affecting one or more groups of muscles, especially of the limbs, may supervene, and may even prove fatal. Medical advice should at once be obtained in such cases.

“The disease is carried from person to person, and the infection is taken through the nose and mouth. The throat, nose, and bowel discharges of the patient can carry infection, and tlicsu should always be disinfected. “So far as is known, the infection is not carried by water or milk. “Prevention. —All gatherings of young children must be avoided, and young children must not bo allowed to enter any house where there i» any case of sickness.. Kissing and fondling of children should not bo allowed. Children should not use drinking cups, etc., in common.

'‘The sick should ho isolated.from the healthy, and if strict isolation aTU i appropriate nursing cannot be obtained at home the patient should be treated in ah isolation hospital. “The sick loom and its core, cuts (shovjJd he disinfected at Uio end of the illness

..“Peisons who are brought into contact with the patients are advis.-d lo disinfect the throat •nd nose. For this purpose, in antiseptic solution such as either of the following is recommended for use twice or* three times daily in hand sprays or atomisers-(a) Permanganate of'potash: Half a teaspoohful of common salt to a breakfastcup of tepid

water made very faintly pink with permanganate of potash or Condy s fluid, (b) Pcmx'di. of hydrogen: One, per cent, solution. \\ ho i hand sprays are not leodily available the antiseptic solution should be poured m to the palm of tho hand, smiled up through the nostrils, an 1 e\pe! ci through tho mouth ; afterwards some more "f the solution -should he used as a mouth wash and gargle. Th.n method is only practicable with older children and adults. It is desirable in the first m-tanre that this should be done under medical instruction and supervision.” -As already indicated, although tire outbreak so far is not regarded as alarming, everything is being dene to combat the trouble, and fortunately the infactivity of this mysterious disease is low.

It may be mentioned here that no country has made more provision than New Zealand for tho after-treatment of infantile paralysis cases. The Health Department took over the King George V. Hospital, Rotorua, in which sufferers from the after-effects of the disease are specially treated. This hospital is in charge of a recognised specialist, Dr. W. Stanley Wallis, and some wonderful recoveries are reported. DIPHTHERIA The posit!oa in ’’egard lo diphtheria has been better during the past twelve months than for the previous year. The figures for j 924 and 1923 are as follow, those lor 1923 being given in parentheses :

January 21 (4), February 26 (25),' March 29 (29), April 33 (25), May 32 (36), June 41 (71), July 33 (53), August 29 (32), September 36 (23), October 30 (24), November 23 (31), December 20 (35). Totals: 1924, 353; 1923, 388.

In 1923 the number of scarict fever cases was BJ, whilst this year the cases reported numbered 92.

INFLUENZA Last year, referring to the whole Dominion, was described as an influenza year In the Wellington city and suburban area—as indeed throughout the Dominion—there has this year been a marked absence of pneumonic influenza. The total number of notifications in the Wellington area this year was only 6, as against 78 last year; whilst there have bean only two notifications of pneumonia, as against 47 in-1923.