TO PREVENT INFECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17008, 15 November 1918, Page 6

TO PREVENT INFECTION

WOMEN SHOPPERS WARNED.

APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE.

The great risk of infection attendant I upon crowding in public places was again emphasised by Dr. Frengley last evening. Referring specially to the question of shopping, he —''In these times one would expect that women would reduce shopping in drapery and soft goods to a minimum, I cannot say that such is being curtailed to the degree that the occasion demands. I appeal to all reasonable women to do so, and I leave the other unreasonable members, if anv, to flout common-sense precautions. It should bo possible for large shops to so control the doors that no large number of the public will at any time congregate inside the premises. It is far better for customers to wait a little time outside in the open air than inside, where the air is •less pure. I expect, such a step to be taken, at least as regards the larger or more frequented establishments. I cannot directly control the movements of women coming from homes, possibly in which someone is ill or recovering, but I do not want to leave any loophole for a recrudescence of disease because things appear, however slightly, to Is moving towards normal again."

REQUIREMENTS OF thi ACT.

PENALTIES FOR BREACHES.

In view of the fact that infiuer.za has 1 been gazetted as./an infectious disease, Dr. J. P. Frortgley, acting-chief health officer, i j is desirous that the sections of the Public' ' Health Act, 1908, directly affecting the < public, should be widely known. I Section 34 contains a warning to infected persons who wilfully expose themselves in ' any shop, inn, public place, or public ' , vehio'e, without taking precautions against : spreading disease. A sub-section prrvides that an intimation must be given to the driver or conductor of any public vehicle before use is made of such vehicle, and further, that no person in charge of any person suffering from an infectious disease must allow any breach of the kind or manner stated. Every owner, driver or conductor of a public vehicle is also required to effectually disinfect any vehicle used by a person suffering from an infectious disease. The penalty for j each of any of the foregoing breaches of I the Act is iJIO. If the offence relates to j a public vehicle the Court may order the defendant, being other than the owner, driver or conductor, to pay to the owner! the expenses incurred in disinfecting the vehicle. Section 36 of the Act states that j every person is liable to a fine not exceeding £20 who knowingly lends, sells, trans-; mits, or exposes any things which have j been exposed to infection from any infec-' tious disease, unless they have first been . effectively disinfected, or proper preeau-, tions have been taken against spreading j infection. I I