HEALTH OF NEW ZEALANDERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 21 June 1927, Page 8

HEALTH OF NEW ZEALANDERS

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES PROPOSALS FOll COMING YEAR. (Per Press Association.) HAMILTON, last night, Health research activities conducted in New Zealand last year were the subject of an interesting review by Mr. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, in his pre-sessional address to his Hamilton t<o-night-, when he also stated what proposals are likely during the incoming year. The research carried out, he said, had been, laboratory investigations and field; inquiries. Studies in the laboratories had been, principally of infantile paralysis, rheumatoid arthritis and goitre. Difficulties had been encountered in regard to infantile paralysis'work, and While considerable progress had been made in the technique surrounding the problem, no definite advance could be claimed of the knowledge of the dis■oase. Rheumatoid arthritis was a particularly distressing disease, a«id required special detailed investigations in the Dominion. Dr. Stevenson had condueled laborious tests as elaborated by certain workers in America, and his investigations did not sustain the cln.iins of- those workers in regard to diagnosis and the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by serological tests, his findings being more or less of a negative nature. Another inquiry was carried out in connection with goitre, continued the Minister, and detailed chemical investigations made into the proportion of iodine found under soil and vegetables in different parts of the Dominion and suggested 1 that, the-range of investigations should be widened (faring the coming year.

The field) inquiries conducted during tho year, he continued, included investigations into cancer by Dr. Fulton, the sum of £2200 being available for tho work, the Government providing half. Dr. Fulton's report was not yet completed.

A Second inquiry was being made into the. incidence of tuberculosis in school children, said! Mr. Young, and a harmless test had 1 been applied in certain standard schools, with the result that a. definite conclusion was arrived at. Anthropometric experiments concerning the weight and height of New Zealand school children provided further field for inquiry, and the condition of rural school children was also investigated. The proposals for the coming year included further investigation into infantile paralysis, an inquiry into the history of the hydatids parasite, and 1 the classification of various grasses iii New Zealand -in connection with hay' fever. It had been resolved to carry on investigations into rheumatic diseases and goitre. Field work would be extended to include an inquiry'into the incidence of cancer among the Maoris, the establishment of school nutrition classes, attention to the pre-schobl child, and observations regarding children in contact, with tuberculosis cases. Further' work would be undertaken if possible in connection with maternal mortality, and first month infant mortality.