INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18946, 18 February 1925, Page 10

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

, POSITION IN AUCKIASTO. , CLEAN SHEET FOR THE DAY, NO FRESH CASES REPORTED. . PRECAUTIONS TO CONTINUE* No fresh cases of infantile paralysis were reported to the Health Department in Auckland yesterday. While* officials of the department were very gratified at the fact that the day showed a clean sheet, it was pointed out that the occurrence could not be taken to indicate that the epidemic was definitely on the wane. During such epidemics, the number of cases varied considerably from day to day, and although one clay might show only a few notifications, the next might show a sudden increase. There was no real change in the position, and people were warned to continue to observe the customary precautions. POSITION IN DOMINION. ANOTHER • DAY'S FIGURES. TWENTY-FIVE NEW CASES, [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The returns of infantile paralysis cases notified for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day aro as follow : Auckland, 7 (Mount Albert .2, New ; ,Lvnn 1, Matiere 1, Taumarunui 1, Whangarei 1, Hobson County 1). Wellington, 12 (Taihape 1, Waimarino 1, Kaponga 1, Hawera 2, Palrnerston North 1, Levin 2, Otaki Railway 1, Plimmerton 1, Mauriceville 1, Kith am 1). Canterbury, 5 (Halswell 1, Lauriston 1, Ashburton 1, Timaru 1, Orari 1). Otago, 1 (Si, Kilda). A meeting of the Board of Health was held to-day in Wellington, Sir Maui Pomare. Minister for Health, presiding. Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, Director General of Health, gave a summary of the epidemic, and the measure;? taken by the Health Department to deal with it. He said that from the commencement of the epidemic in late November until Monday last, 522 cases had been notified, and 69 deaths had occurred. This rate of mortality of 13.3 per cent, could be only very slightly increased by possible deaths yet* to occur of cases notified within the last few days. The distribution was as follows: — Auckland health district, 163 cases, 30 deaths; Wellington, 318 eases, 35 deaths; Canterbury, 38 cases, 3 deaths; Otago, 4 cases, 1 death; total for tho Dominion, 522 cases, 69 deaths. Press Association, messages from tho South give the following particulars regarding the epidemic:— Ohakune. —A girl, two and a-half years old, has been transferred to the, Wanganui Hospital from Waimarino, suffering from infantile paralysis. This is the first case I in the Waimarino district. Christchurch. —Ono case of infantile paralysis was reported yesterday morning from Opawa. Of 29 cases in Christchurch Hospital, 25 are positive. Timaru. —A young man, aged 21, admitted to the hospital from Orari, suffering from infantile paralysis, died on Monday night. HISTORY OP EPIDEMIC. TREATMENT WITH SERUM. THE NEED FOR RESEARCH. A report on the position of infantile paralysis in Auckland was presented to the Hospital Board last evening by tho medical superintendent of the" hospital, Dr. C. E. Maguire. The report stated the first admission to the hospital was on November 26, and ihero were six admissions in December. Then there was a lull to January 7, since when there were one or more admissions every day. The largest, number for <us day was five, on January 30. Seventyseven actual cases had been admitted, 62 being males, the ages ranging fioni seven months to 29 years. In addition, tbeie were 20 cases where patients were found to be suffering from some other disease, making the total admissions 97. Seven of the genuine cases were adults, but the majority were children between two and seven years of age. The children were nearly all from good homes, and were well cared for and well nourished. There were practically no cases from the city area. The deaths totalled 18, giving a mortality of 23 per cent. A large number of deaths were due to respiratory failure, caused by paralysis of the muscles of the respiratory organs. Patients had experienced pain at the back of the neck, extending down the back. Vomiting occurred m about 5C per cent, of the cases. There was no very definite evidence of exposure to the sun. Injection of serum had been, on the whole, of benefit. As a result of the appeal made in the press, many donors had come forward arul had given their blood, and that was most gratifying. At present there were 54 patients in the hospital, a forgo number of whom would have to remain for upwards of 12 months for treatment. There was evidence of abatement in severity of the epidemic, and it was hoped the dreadful disease would soon be over. The chairman, Mr. W, Wallace, said there was a lot to be thankful for in tho recovery of patients. There were two children in one family who were getting better with no permanent injury whatever. It was evident that there would have to be assistance in the massage department as a result of the epidemic, ahd it was proposed to add three more masseuses to the staff. It was hoped the proportion of permanent incapacity would be small. In Wellington tho permanent disability was claimed to bo about 15 per cent. 'flic board authorised the appointment of three members of the massage staff. Mr. M. J. Coyle asked it anything was being done in the Dominion to find out the cause of infantile paralysis. The board should take a hand in inducing the Government to go ink) the matter. Tho Government was doing something, tint it was not doing sufficient. A department should be set up to carry on research work continuously, even if it did cost a few thousands. Tho chairman said research work had been going on in England and America for years, and people there were working very assiduously. The Minister for Health was in whole-hearted sympathy with tho question of research, and ho was determined that the whole matter should go to Cabinet. Ho had no power to make a grant himself, as it was a matter for Cabinet. Tho Health Department said that Dr. Gilmour was tho ablest man in the Dominion for research work, and Dr. Valintine had asked that he give his whole time to the work. Mr. Coyle: They should have someone of their own. Mr. Wallace said every attempt was 1 being made to get to tho bottom of tho thing, and they hoped tho germ would . bo located in tho Auckland laboratory. When there was a question of retrenchment, the Health Department was the first to suffer, 'because it conld not show a balance of £.,• s d. He was sure the Minister would' push the matter before Cabinet, and ho thougliLiia jffffljliLgefc a ■ latiafftctcry hearing.. : " " r 'T