INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16662, 16 February 1925, Page 2

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Nq ; - eases of infantile paralysis were reported in the Auckland district to-day. AUCKLAND, this day. Three cases of infantile paralysis were notified over the week-end, also one death, <a man aged 26, at Auckland hospital.; ‘WELLINGTON, last night. The following notifications of infantile paralysis were received for the 24 hours ended, 9 o’clock to-day: Hamilton I, Thames 1, Wellington City 6, Belmont 1,1 Stratford 1, Hawera 1, Wanganui 5, Levin 2, Shannon 2, Cashpoint 1, Blenheim 3, Christchurch 2, Ashburton 1, Pareora 1; total 23. HAWERA, this day. The first death from infantile paralysis is reported from Hawera hospital, the victim being a child aged two years, admitted from Rivfriea. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Five additional cases of infantile paralyse, were reported in Canterbury during the 24 hdurs ended noon. The total number of patients in hospital is now twenty. DUNEDIN, this day. A case of infantile paralysis has occurred at Alexandra, a child five months old. It is isolated at Clyde Hospital. Five! contacts tiro also isolated. : CONVALESCENT BLOOD. SPLENDID RESPONSE TO THE APPEAL. (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. There has been a splendid response in Auckland to the appeal for convalescent blood for the preparation of serum for the -'treatment of infantile paralysis patients. Appeals were made on February 5 by the medical superintedent of the Auckland hospital. Dr. C. E. Maguire, and the hospital bacteriologist and pathologist, Dr. W. OilihoUir. The response was immediate and splendid, representing in its proportions a fine tribute to the character and high civic spirit of the parents of volunteers. Bo far about 30 volunteers from the metropolitan area of Auckland have given convalescent blood for the benefit of present sufferers from infantile paralysis. Almost as many offers of a- similar service liave been received from the parents of convalescents in the country, but it lias liofc- been practicable to accept such volunteers. Samples of blood must be' taken in tbe hospital or laboratory, under which eliminate the danger of contamination. Hence ithas been considered imprudent to take samples of convalescent blood from volunteers in the country and transmit it by mail to the Auckland hospital laboratory. No risks can be taken, and it would be asking too much from generous volunteers to incur the expense of travelling to Auckland. Some people may consider that such expense in special circumstances might very properly be borne by the State, but no official suggestion as to that has been made. The medical officers of Auckland hospital are deeply appreciative of the splendid response that has been made to their appeal.