HEALTH OF DOMINION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9870, 16 January 1918, Page 2

HEALTH OF DOMINION

INFECTIOUS DISEASE FIVE YEARS’ NOTTFIOATIONS COMPAREp. The following return, showing tie number of cases of infectious disease notified' during the past five years, has been prepared at tho request, of the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Public Health): 1913 1811 1915 1916 1917 Scarlet fever 1614 1508 2313 4378 3755 Diphtheria ... 747 1095 14-0 23:6 645 b E'uterio fever 836 859 525 606 653 Tuberculosis 1018 957 10X9 950 loti Cerebro-spinal jneningitis • Infantile paralysis —: "The most striking features of the table j’* 'stated' the ” Minister to a “Times” reprosent-atire yesterday, “are the steady growth of tho diphtheria epidemic, reaching jt£ muxiimim of 5453 cases in 1917; the rapid development of • scarlet fever, culminating in 4278 oases in 1916; and the enormous number of cases of poliomyelitis : (infantile paralysis) in 1816, when 1013 cases were reported. lam thankful to say that during tho year 19(7 the number of cases of this disease was 54 only. Though less in degree, probably even greater in importance was the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis in 1915, with 85 oases, which rose to its maximum of 135 in 1916, and jjas fallen to 4? ift, Isl7-’ M is well knpwp, this disease started in military camps; and though the number of civilian cases was small, yet it in gratifying. to' know that the 1917 totfl is so much smaller than that pf 1916. PERIODICITY OP DISEASE. ‘(The Health Department has madfc a careful study of . the figures given herewith, ami report? thsv, thsdgh so--fur dista-Jiti New .Zealand’s experience with regard to diphtheria ia apparently similar to that of England/ which has also recently experienced a severe epudemic of disease. - “The scientific study of infectious diseases,” the Minister added, “shows that there aro. periodic changes or cycles, in, the numbers of cases of particular diseases wand in ’their severity. ■ So far,- the'law; pf. periodicity governing these developments has not been) clearly laid down ; by the • authorities. - AlJ.over the world, however, scjeuti&hmen who devote ' their atteiitiph 10-i health;" sanitation, and hygiene are' studying titoto phases'with a view pi qapertaihihg thg/naturfij law? by whidh these epidemics are brought about, in order that, tho causes may be sirooessfujly combated. ' • ENTERIC,- SGACRLET FEVER, AND diphtheria'. "It ,‘is, of course/ gratifying to know that tJxkt.lgll.class'.§|. (ligoaK.fiCßfifAlly described as'enteric fever has been' successfully comb a-tod, A, ’ glance at the' figures witi ghpw that from 1913 downward? theru has been a steady de> mease of tliese diseases in ;our Dp-’ min;qgj , heginfiiug : w ita 3(th : in . 1913,' while only ,653 were recorded in 1917 Fortunately sblencd' has shown, thfit these diseases are .largely traceable’ to lack of sanitation and olekuitoess; and the administratipn ' of- fie Publ|s Health - Deartmeht has been; veiy largely ~ devoted - during recent - years tp ’exerpising; its powers with:' regard to the drainage of hprofighs and 1 the enforcement oi the laws of clealiUiiess upon the enriro.pQPUlation. It is pos-siblo-.thkt” fdrtherl'kearci' may "‘in "the same way discover the means by which diphthena and scarlet fever may also be controlled. "The examination that I have made into this question recently lead? me tp tho opinion that in many districts the., storm centres ■ lor scarlet ■ fever and diphtheria are really/pur schools- This is ho reflootioa on the Education Department, hut it will bo manifept thatwhere ohildron who perhaps are ‘carriers,’ or perhaps have those diseases ip_ an incipiont state, ore allowed to mix freel ywith their fellow-sohoolohil-dren, - the - danger of - infection ■being carried throughout a district is very great. OPEN-AIR. SCHOOLS FAVOURED.

“It is also evident to all students of school architecture that in many cases our schools have been built under the control of incompetent architect?, to whom the question of sanitation was unknown, and where, pg account of the”internal configuration pf the school, breeding-places for noisome bacteria, aro provided,. The ffucstion of public health ia one which grows the more it is studied, and its'sncceseful treatment can only bo assured by detailed effort, ' in which tho assistance not only of the Barents hht of the school teachers and the, school committees must bo sought. ‘T am glad to say that my colleague, the Hop. J, A . Hanan, has been making efforts in the direction of establishing open-air sohools. -- -It appears to me'that there should ho a tree-planting effort associated withevery one of our schools where land, is available, in order that, during the summer season at any rate, the whole of tho school work should bo done in tho pure open air, shaded by tree? from the heat of the sun. Such a development aa that, in my opinion, would tend to prevent epidemics, developing, and would certainly be an" immense benefit to the school children so far ps health and physique aro cernedSOLDIERS AND TUBERCULOSIS. ‘ ; “A regrettable increase ia shown in the tuberculosis figures, which in 1917

were. 1521, as against 950 for the previous year. To a certain extent this is to be accounted for by the returned soldiers—many of whom, I deeply regret to say. exhibit tuberculous tendencies after they have returned to their native country. The Health Department is keenly watching developments in this direction. The 'Waikato Sanatorium at Cambridge is now entirely given up to soldiers and discharged soldiers who are suffering from tuberculous disease. There are also some patients in hospitals in various parts of the Dominion. Tho Otakl Sanatorium is now entirely given up to women patients and also to some this matter. The necessity- of further ing further provision is apparent, and at the present time, inquiries are being made as to a suitable district for the establishment of a further sanatorium for consumptive soldiers and discharged men. " Proposals will shortly be submitted to Cabinet with regard to this matter. * The neotssity of further accommodation is becoming clamant inother parts of New Zealand; The Cashmere Hijls Sanatorium at Christchurch is overcrowded, and on Friday next a conference is to take’ place between the hospital boards of Canterbury, Westland, Sopth Canterbury, Ashburton, and myself, at Christchurch, for the purpose of considering developments to meet civilian necessities (n the South Island.

“FinaUy,, Y would draw attention to the gratifying results which the departmental figures show regarding enteric fever, and what can be done when the causes and operations of an epF domic disease have been mastered. 1 sincerely hope that the present war will shctW a huge reduction in tho diphtheria and scarlet fever'epidemics, 'and the last figures which have come before mo give reason to hope that the present will bo a healthy year.” HEALTH OF WELLINGTON.

The following are the notes of tlie District Health (Mi-cer, Wellington, for the month of December, and some comments with regard to the past year so fax as infectious diseases are concerned :~-,rThe number of, oases, of '.infectious diseases in the Wellington health district, .(which includes" the “provincial districts - of Wellington, - -TaFanajd, Hawke’s Bay. Nelson, and Marlborough) during the month of .Deimplherwas comr-nrativoly small." Tho survey of the twelve monthly bulletins, as supplied in 1917. shows that the three " months bn which' : epidem)io diseases were leas# active were January with 166; Februar-v- with 178, ahd December with . 264 liotifibatiohs. Most notifications were ppcprded in When a total of ; 543 was; reached. . : ->■ >' Fever .=y3earlet fever lias not been much-in evidence during the : month under" review (December), npr : indeed during tlje whole of the year just ended. •. The. Nelson district which", by aonje unknown law of compensation, {■largely escaped the" diphtheria epi-r demio. has contributed. the biggest proportion of the' scarlet fever cases dpr* ring the year, and during the month. “Diphtheria.—(Diphtheria : is still active ; the wide distribution of the epidemic is worthy of note, every; hospital district cantrihuting cases during the month of December. “Enteric.—?TJie " for enteric fever show ah increase over last ■ month’s return. Waiapu and " Cook Hpsp|tal districts have contributed 'most of tho cases of this disease during the'yearr and contributed'seven out" of the. thirteen-cas.es-.fbr thp.month.• “Oo'rebfrio-spihal Mmingitig.—Sporadic sases cfr oerahro-spinai meningitis: still occur,. For the month of-Decern- 1 her one" -notification was-received from Paten: and one from the /Nelson; district.” . .