DEATHS OF CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18657, 13 March 1924, Page 8

DEATHS OF CHILDREN.

j " v vm\ j, / \ %z SUMMER SICKNESS COMMON. FLY-BORNE INFECTION. BACILLUS OF ENTERITIS. PRECAUTIONS ADVISED. Doctors have been considerably concerned recently at the prevalence of summer sickness among cbildiren, stated Dr. H. Chesson, relieving : medical officer of health at Auckland, yesterday. In all J some nine deaths have been reported of i children, ranging from a few months t«j 12j years. The > cases reported occurred in the Avondale, New Lynn , and ' Glen Eden dis- , tricts, but there wfcs no. reason to suppcie that the sickness was confined to that area. ?• ' The Health Department at once made a thorough investigation, including bacteriological examination, and established 1 > that the trouble was caused by the bacillus which produced enteritis, more commonly known as -summer diarrhoea. organism is '• generally carried .by • flies, . said Dr. Chesson, " and there; is wore than. a suspicion that milk has by this means been, contaminated by the bacillus which we consider to bo largely responsible for the trouble." ..." -s . , A serious feature of the prevalent sickness was that its onset was so. sudden. In one case the first; symptoms were extreme drowsiness on the part of the child, followed by convulsions and diarrhoea. Death, supervened "after 30 hours. In another case the period from the onset until death was slightly lass; A further case was quoted of a child' who returned to school after lunch and at 1.30 p.m. was carried . home unconscious* -Period? of vomiting and* diarrhoea alternating with ' unconsciousness followed Until the child died at 7 p.m. Thus only 5£ hours separated the first onset from death. Guarding Against Disease. The disease had apparently; been prevalent since the beginning of February and, as it was not notifiable, it .was probable that the cases which had been brought under , the notice of the department were only a proportion i■of v the whole. The serious consequences . which , had followed in certain cases, made - it : evident that every care should be taken to guard against the disease. _ ' .. .' 1. " I have already indicated that .tne organism responsible '.for > enteritis is being carried largely by flies," said • Dr. Chesson. "It is essential :at the present time, therefore, that every care should be taken •to protect milk and food generally from flies. : It is possible: for the milk to be contaminated before it is delivered at the house, but much more probable that it ; ie infected after, arrival. It is therefore of the first importance that all milk should be scalded on delivery, and that every care should be taken that the utensils used for its reception are absolutely t clean. :-. • . " Finrlly the milk, after: scalding, should be so stored or protected that fb'«« cnnriot gain access to it. Mere scalding, of course/ only kills the organisms already present. If the milk •is not protected, it can easly be .reinfected, . " Dairy farmers and milk vendors should also be esneciallv careful in the collection, storage, and delivery of milk." 1 Sxtermlaaticn of Piles.

As flies were ths * carriers ■ and chief disseminators of the disease, continued Dr. Chesson, the war' should be carried into the enemy's camp. The breeding grounds of flies should be eliminated., Backyards should be spring-cleaned and all refuse destroyed where possible. Otherwise it should be protected from flies by placing it in tins with close fitting lids, while awaiting removal. , " There are a good many backyards in Auckland which require. attention," > Dr. Chesson concluded. " This morning T.inspected several • places in ' residential areas close to the city.. f was . disgusted with the filth to be; found, in many backyards, and at the carelessness of householders in throwing out foul water near door?. And, there were pieces of [ food lying about. " It is..about time we had another ' swat that fly campaign, or, what is better,' time we eliminated the flips' breeding grounds."