INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Patea Mail, Volume XL, 20 March 1916, Page 2

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

ALL SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED.

Dr Sydney Smith, District Health Officer, paid a visit to Patea r on Friday and inspected several public buildings and places of business in the town, leaving for Hawera by the mail train later in the day.

As a result of his visit the following notice has been issued by the local Hospital Board:— “ Acting under the advice and instruction of the Health Department, and a report having been presented to this Board by the Borough Council authorities that many premises witnin the Borough are in a very insanitary condition and liable to spread disease, notice is hereby given that immediate prosecution will follow any neglect to take all precautions by cleaning premises thoroughly, and cabs, schools, etc, and disinfecting same thoroughly. It is aslo that all day 'schools, Sunday schools and of continual public occupancy be closed for the present. ’ ’

SPREADING IN HAWERA.

FIVE OASES IN THE BOROUGH |

Another fresh case of infantile paralysis was reported in Hawera making a total of thirty two for the district, these being made up of fifteen in the Hawera County, five in the Borough and twelve in the adjoining districts. As a consequence of the spread of the epidemic all schools in the district will be closed and other drastic action taken.

DR SMITH’S ADVICE

To a Wanganui Herald reporter on Thursday afternoon Dr Smith of the Health Department explained some of the symptoms of infantile paralysis, He said that usually the first symptoms of the disease were that a child refused food, and complained of headache or a pain at the hack of the neck. Vomiting and convulsion sometimes occurred. The temperature rose to lOO’to 102 degrees. After one or two days paralysis supervened the parts paralysed being usually in the arms or legs, but any muscle in the body might be effected. In some cases paralysis had Occurred in the muscles of the neck only. After paralysis occurred the symptoms usually subsided, and an improvement in the condition took place gradually. The disease he said, was caused by minute organisms, so small as to be visible under a high powered microscope only. It was now being grown in cultures in laboratories and Dr Flexine.Jof the Rockfellow institute had transmitted the disease to monkeys from cultures It was found that the organisms obtained access to the tissues of the spinal cord through the lining membrane of the nose and throat. It was also transmitted by bites from insects, such as flies, fleas and bugs. Dust also carried the infection. There was no doubt that long continued heat and dryness were unfavourable conditions. All the outbreaks in Europe, America and the colonies had been associated with hot, dry weather. Dr Smith advised that a medical man should be consulted atjjthe first sign of suspicious symptoms. He stated that there was danger in kissing, and the infection might he spread in this way even by apparently healthy persons. In conclusion, Dr Smith advised parents to do “all they could to keep the epidemic within present restricted limits. He advised that proper attention should be given to keeping the houses in a proper sanitary condition, children to be subjected neither to extremes of heat nor chills, the latter especially after bathing. Children should also be kept away from assemblies, places of amusement, and dusty thoroughfares.