GRAVE SITUATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17455, 5 February 1925, Page 8

GRAVE SITUATION.

DOMINION DOCTORS DISCUSS INFANTILE PARALYSIS. GOVERNMENT URGED TO STIMULATE RESEARCH AND OFFER PRIZE. Pk/r Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 5. A meeting of 100 Auckland doctors discussed the infantile paralysis epidemic last night. Sir Maui Pomare (Minister of Health), Sir Truby King, and Dr J. S. Purdy (New South Wales Health Officer), being present. Sir Truby King said that it was impossible to exaggerate the gravity of the situation. A serious feature was that recovery was so protracted that it produced enormous mental arrest. Sir M. Pomare said that the Government would give every assistance to the investigation of the disease. The following resolution was carried: “That this meeting, while recognising the excellent work the Health Department is doing, is of the opinion that further research work offers the only means of establishing early diagnosis and successful treatment of infantile paralysis, and urges the Government to provide adequate funds for the pursuance of bacteriological and experimental research by medical practitioners. The Government should offer an adequate prize for the most helpful original essay on infantile paralysis."

NO NEW CASES. POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH No additional notifications of cases of infantile paralysis vere received bv the Medical Officer of Health, Dr T. Fletcher Telford, this morning. Yesterday afternoon the case of the hov, aged four, from Hardwick Street, Sumner, proved to be positive, making a total of eleven positive case s in the Christchurch Hospital at present. Dr Telford stated last evening that two cases at present in hospital, a boy aged four, from George Street, New Brighton, and a. boy aged three, from St Asaph Street, Linwoodj had both proved negative. A fair number of permits for children under sixteen to travel to the North Island was issued this morning. FATAL CASE AT PICTON. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM. February 5. A case of infantile paralysis, that of a young man, twenty-one years of age. terminated fatally at Picton this morning.

GIRL DIES IN TIMARU. Per Press Association. TIMARU. February o. r rhe first case of infantile paralysis in Timaru ended fatally. A girl, seven years of age, was removed to hospital last night and died this morning. _ DOMINION CASES. ■A Per Press Association-. WELLINGTON, February 5. Notifications of infantile paralysis for the twenty-four hours ending at 9 a.in. to-day are as follow: Wanganui, 3. Patea, 1. Masterton, 2. Johnsonville, 1. Pukekohe, 1. Xauranga, 1. Oamaru, 2. Notifications for the Dominion from November 25 until to-day are:— Auckland Health District, 99. Wellington, 228. Canterbury-, 19. Otago, 3. “ Total, 849.