ONLY A PENNY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LI, Issue 24, 11 November 1929, Page 4

ONLY A PENNY.

CHRISTMAS SEAL. TO STAMP OUT TUBERCULOSIS. In order to grapple satisfactorily with the problem of tuberculosis, it is necessary for the State to begin with the child, who provides the primary occasion of infection, and the ideal opportunity of treatment. —Sir George Newman, Principal Medical Officer, British Ministry of Health. While tuberculosis remains one of the principal national scourges, it is important to recognise that it is steadily declining. The fall in the mortality of tuberculosis (all forms) in New Zealand is set out clearly in the following ten-yearly figures:— Death rate from tuberculosis per 10,000 of mean population: 1878, 12.20; 1888, 10.09; 1898, 10.44; 1908, 8.89; 1918, 7.54; 1928, 5.02. Past history of the decline of this disease, says Sir George Newman, is not only full of encouragement as regards its relative conquest, but also of instruction as to the factors which have played a chief part in its defeat. First among these is the increase in the powers of resistance of the individual by sound nutrition, the practice of hygiene, and the immunisation of the people. Social amelioration and cheap food have played an important part. Secondly, there has been an improved practice in prevention of'the spread of infection from the diseased to the healthy, and by the control of tuberculosis milk or meat. The third line of defence is the care of the general health, including improved housing, less pvercrowding, industrial welfare, the open-air life, and adequate infant and child welfare service. Fourthly, there is the education of the people in the practice of health and the formation of sound habits of hygiene. Lastly, there is the direct attack by particular methods on this particular disease, namely:—(l) Prompt and early notification; (2) domiciliary and dispensary treatment; (3) the sanatorium; (4) the hospital; (5) the village settlement; and (6) proper and effectual means of aftercare. “CONTRACTED IN CHILDHOOD.” In New' Zealand, as we have already seen, the death rate from tuberculosis has fallen remarkably in the last forty years, until to-dav the mortality from this disease is 1 iwer probably than in any other part of the world. There is, however, a great deal of improvement to be effected, and the present is the time, when the disease is not so prevalent as formerly, that offers the best opportunity for grappling with it. Intensive measures' can now be applied with every chance of making a fuller material reduction in the incidence of the disease. Sir Robert Philip, who is probably the most eminent authority to-day, and who has made the prevention and cure of tuberculosis his life work, points out that the infant is seldom born tuberculous, and that infer! ion is for the most part contracted in childhood. Childhood -is, then, the period to which our attention should he particularly' directed, and for this reason it is to be hoped the public will support the endeavor to raise funds by means of the Christmas Real. The Christmas Real is a combined postage and anti-tuber-culosis stamp. Tbe words “Help to Stamp out Tuberculosis” appear on the stamp as an indication of the purpose to which the proceeds will he applied. The Christmas Real will be available for use in (be course of a few weeks—in time for most Christmas correspondence.