NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25429, 10 January 1944, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

SPHERE have been minor outbreaks J- of infantile paralysis in the South Island in recent months, and the Health Department has now issued a warning that this increased incidence of the disease might be the precursor of a summer or autumn epidemic. The department urges parents to be on the constant lookout for symptoms and emphasises the imperative need for prompt action. The symptoms of infantile paralysis are similar to those of other infectious childhood diseases, and sick children affected by fever, headache, drowsiness, and irritability should be treated as suspects and a doctor should be summoned. Stiffness of the spine and neck is a highly significant symptom. Early indications of infection may be mild, but within 24 to 72 hours the child may not be able to move a limb. Particular stress is laid by the department, on the need for cleanliness, both personal and household, and for keeping flies away from all foodstuffs.

Matriculation Results The matriculation examination results will probably be handed to fhe Press Association for distribution throughout New Zealand late on January 20 or early on January 21. This is the- usual date when the list is published. Americans’ Christmas Gifts

A total of 7,479,988 Christmas packages were distributed to members of the United States naval service on duty at sea and overseas. A Navy Department statement which has been received in Auckland states that 3,479,988 of the packages were shipped overseas and the others were delivered on board ships at American ports. All the gifts were from the friends and relatives of the men on service. Rushed by Steer

A Jersey steer recently provided an unenviable experience for Mrs T. W. Maclean and her two small children, of Waimumu, Mataura. While paddling in the Kelvin creek with her son, aged, four years, and her daughter, aged 21 months, she was rushed and knocked down by the steer. Calling to the little boy to run for his life, she frustrated the animal by divesting herself of her frock and throwing it over the horns of the steer, which continued to toss the dress. 'Mrs Maclean, although in a bruised condition, was able to make her escape with the little girl. Literary Competition A surprising response was made by men and women of the armed forces in New Zealand and the Pacific to a scheme originated last year by the Army Education Welfare Service and the National Broadcasting Service to give service personnel the opportunity to express their latent literary talent. Entries for a competition for radio plays, short stories, descriptive sketches, narrative poems, and lyric poems closed on December 1. Prizes offered ranged up to 20gns. The lyric poem section attracted. 142 entries, while 40 entered narrative poems. There were 83 short stories, 39 descriptive sketches, and 39 radio plays. More Vandalism Another instance of vandalism occurred in the city during the weekend. when some misguided individual made a gash in one of'the trees encircling the Oval and from a height of seven or eight feet stripped a section of the bark down towards the ground. The great improvement m the appearance of the Oval in recent years, and the shapely proportions which the trees are now assuming after a chequered early career, afford much pleasure'to passers-by, and it is difficult to understand why such an act of wanton destruction should have been committed. Even if the tree should survive it will undoubtedly suffer disfigurement. Lost Ring

Returning to New Plymouth by rail from her honeymoon recently, a young bride had the misfortune to lose her valuable diamond engagement ring on the train. The loss was not discovered until the couple reached their home a few miles from New Plymouth, and it was with some pessimism that they rang the station about 10 o’clock. By chance a railway official working late answered the call, and making a search of the carriages, which had been .already cleaned, discovered the ring in a crack in a seat. The carriage was part of a train which was to have left the next morning, and the chance of discovering the ring that day was regarded as negligible. It was 'a happy bride who recovered her ring at the station next day. A Dangerous Rock

Climbers on Mount Egmont are unable to reach the summit by the usual entrance to the crater because of the menace of a large rock weighing four or five tons, which is at a precarious angle and threatens to crash down the mountain at any mo-, ment. The only other approach to the crater is one used only by experienced climbers. A warning has been given by the Taranaki Alpine Club to all climbers to avoid going anywhere within range of the Bell’s Falls track, which is directly within the danger zone. No attempts at climbing must be made unless the climbers are accompanied by an experienced guide. The slightest vibration of the rock is likely to send it rolling down the mountain and catch some party of trampers unawares. There is also a possibility of its bringing an avalanche down with it. It .is hoped by the club to remove the danger by blasting the rock away. Importance of Vaccines Failure on the part of the Government to bring within the scope of the social security scheme the provision of free vaccines and electro-therapy services was the subject of adverse comment by a New Plymouth medical practitioner. The reported intention of the Government to enlarge the list of free drugs and medicines was characterised by him as a tendency to disregard methods of treatment other than administering medicines through the stomach. Increasingly medical practice leaned towards the use of vaccines that could produce the same effect ■in a remarkably shorter time, the doctor said. The most outstanding evidence of this was the recent treatment of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr Winston Churchill. Special preparations in a highlyconcentrated form were used in his case with outstanding results. A simple illustration was a comparison in the correction of blood conditions. Many people suffered from time to time with recurrent boils, and the swallowing of medicine—free under the social security scheme —was the longest way of procuring a cure. It was costly, too, for a large number of repeats could easily run into a large amount. By contrast the injection of a vaccine- quickly effected a return to normal and reduced the period of suffering.

For rings, watches, and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers, 59 Princes street, Dunedin. —Advt.