DISTURBING FEATURE OF HEALTH REPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20891, 22 November 1937, Page 8

DISTURBING FEATURE OF HEALTH REPORT

One of the most disturbing features of the report of the Health Department in relation to the increasing amount provided from the national purse for hospitals and public health generally, is the revelations contained in the official report on the progress of the battle being waged in New Zealand against tuberculosis. Reporting on this phase of the work of the Health Department, the Director-General of Health in his latest report says:

Tuberculosis of the Respiratory System.—The year 1936 witnessed a setback regarding this form of tuberculosis, the number of deaths (540) being 60 more than in 1935. This is the highest number of deaths recorded since 1928 (569), and the death-rate per 10,000 of mean population (3.62) is higher than in any year since 1930 (3.71). Fluctuations in the number of deaths and in the death-rate occur from year to year, due to the smallness of our population, but it is many years since

a fluctuation of this magnitude occurred. Tuberculosis other than of the Respiratory System.—Deaths from other forms of tuberculosis increased by 35, from 105 in 1935 to 140 in 1936. The latter figure is, however, only 10 greater than in 1934 and 5 greater than in 1933. Deaths from tuberculosis of the meninges and central nervous system increased by 11, of the genlto-urinary system by 11, and disseminated tuberculosis by 13.

It is realised, of course that the death rate fluctuates from year to year, but because of the relentless war being waged by the health authorities assisted by school officers and the Department of Agriculture, against the scourge has never been relaxed, indeed it has been intensified, the persistance of tuberculosis as one of the principal causes of death in the Dominion is a little disturbing. The fact however, remains that the deaths from tuberculosis show an increase of over one hundred compared with 1935, while the rate of deaths per 10,000 of mean population has risen from 3.88 in 1935 to 4.56 in 1936. The average member of the community in looking for some explanation of this unwelcome trend, will no doubt turn attention to the milk su PPly, because the conditions of life generally in New Zealand do not seem to provide breeding grounds for this terrible disease. Hence in view of these somewhat startling figures and because of the increasing use of milk, the people of New Zealand ought not to be satisfied to accept the continuance of a system which provides for the tuberculin testing of dairy herds on the voluntary basis, but rather that absolute assurance should be given that supplies of milk for human consumption should not only come from registered dairies—that is not enough—but that no untested cattle should be permitted in the herds of the dairymen who supply the domestic milk needs of the community.