CITY'S HEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12067, 24 July 1917, Page 6

CITY'S HEALTH.

DR CHESSON INTERVIEWED. . Tt is pleasant news to loam that the number of new cases of infections diseases in the city for the week ending noon yesterday showed a distinct fall-ing-off, compared to the statistics of the previous week. Dr Chcsson, on being interviewed this morning by a representative of the " Star," said thai' for the whole of the North Canterbury and Westland district, +Jip fresh cases of scarlet fever durias the week had been 14, and of diphtheria 17. For the previous week the respective figures were: Scarlet fever 30 (23 being Christchurch patients), and diphtheria 32 (21 being from Christ church). There had been some deaths recently from diphtheria, but nothing to cause serious alarm. Continuing. Dr Chesson said that it appeared that the worst was over so far as the diphtheria and fever cases were concerned. Although the cases of diphtheria had been more numerous this winter than during last, there bad not been nearly so many scarlet fever victims. There was ample accommodation at Bottle Lake, and unless the very unexpected happened the new permanent buildings would b& more than sufficient to meet the demands. A feature of this season's illnesses was the number of cases of mixed infection, that was, of bofTi" scarlet fever and diphtheria. Despite certain critics of the Bottle Lake site, these mixed infections could not be ascribed to the hospital conditions, as the greater majority of the sufferers had become infected before reaching Bottle Lake, and some had not used the hospital at all. There bad also been several instances of car trouble among patients who had not been to Bottle Lake.

Tn conclusion, Dr Chesson declared that scarlet faver and diphtheria must now be regarded as- endemic so far as Christchurch was concerned, and it was therefore necessary for everybody to take as much precaution as possible. Ventilation was imperative, whether in home or workshop, school or tram, and places of amusement.