PREVENTING IN SANITY

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 10

PREVENTING IN SANITY

IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH. THE CARE OF THE CHILD. An important feature in connection with the treatment, and more particularly the prevention of insanity, was mentioned by the Hon C. J. Parr, Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals, in the course of remarks in Auckland to a deputation which had discussed the question of “border-line” cases. It was probably that what was really concerning the members of the deputation nnc others who were anxious about the reduction of the insanity rate in New Zealand, said Mr Parr, was the issue of pre-insanity in the patient. Personally, he had a great deal of sympathy with any desire there might be to have the conditions which lead up to insanity anticipated by an accurate diagnosis of symptoms which might be due to toxic infection cither from (he teeth, the tonsils, the intestines, etc. Mr Parr said he thought that in New Zealand, upon the whole, the jiersons who had actually lost their mental balance were catered for fairly well. But he believed that the concern expressed recently was for tnc stage before that—pre-insanity. There were two observations to be made on this later important aspect. Firstly, the alienists and medical men generally agreed that the conditions of pre-insanity were the most difficult to detect or diagnose. Secondly, so far as he was aware, no systematic attempt had been made by any State to undertake this work. “Larrdy it is a matter of preserving the general health of the population,” continued me Minister. "New Zealand is beginning where it ought to begin—with the instruction of the expectant mother. Pre natal clinics are being established (and I hope to increase them), where sound advice and counsel, and necessary operative help can be obtained. Then, the standard of midwifery is being raised every year so as to bring the mid wifery into conformity with modem views of aseptic science. Then follows the period at school, when the school doctor, the school nurse, and the school dentist all give their attention to the child. And, when the child reaches the period of

adolescence, it is hoped by the medium of sound, scientific counsel from men like Dr Truby King, and women like his co-adjutor, Miss Paterson, to materially influence the health of the young adult. “And so,” said the Minister,“in this way I hope we are taking the soundest measures possible to reduce our insanity rate.”