WAR ON DISEASE.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16947, 9 November 1926, Page 8

WAR ON DISEASE.

IMPROVED METHODS. MORTALITY RATES DISCUSSED. Modern health methods and their practical application provided an interesting subject for an address delivered under the auspices of the W.E.A. at Hamilton last night by Dr. R. J. M. Mecredy, of the Department of Health. Mr J. R. Fow presided. The speaker dealt exhaustively with the origin of disease and the aspects in which it presented itself, giving an indication of the means adopted for community protection from infection. Many people to-day, proceeded the speaker, had little conception of what the public health meant, arid were inclined to regard the Department of Health rather as a nuisance than a blessing. Ho wanted to remove that impression, which was so often fostered. Health and History. Prevention of disease by medicinal methods had its oi'igin practically as far back as the history of man was recorded. The old Roman slogan that " man docs not die but kills himself," had been borne out through the centuries. Even the nomadic tribes of early mankind had their own storeman lo whom was relegated the duties of caring for the food and keeping it in sound condition. In excavations on the site of an old palace at Nineveh it had been found that from every room led a brickwork drain, exemplifying the fact that the value of sanitation was then recognised. The Romans under Tarquin the elder had extensive sewage schemes, and the work was carried on by Claudius Appius. In Mosaic law provision was made for camp hygiene, which was observed by the Israelites always in their desert wanderings. Probably ancient Greece represented the zenith of personal hygiene, when physical health and strength were built up in the great open-air gymnasiums . at athletics and warlike exercises. The methods adopted for health purposes then were slowly asserting themselves in a modern form based on the same essential principles. The Romans had a complete drainage system and rates were struck for water and sewage. With the downfall of the Roman Empire under Attila, the Hun, mediicine and learning fell into decadence till the days of Columbus. Through the ten dark centuries that intervened the population of Europe remained practically stationary. While the monastic orders were the reponsitory of knowledge, there was ignorance of health and epidemic swept across Europe. In those days cleanliness was not akin to godliness, and the most pious existed in a state of iilth. Conditions in Russia. Russia in the years from 19171024 was an example of a country that felt the cffccls of war, famine and internal collapse in turn It was swept by pestilence, and in that period it is estimated that -50,000,000 Russians perished from famine and disease. Its sprea '• inlo the other countries of Europe was only checked by the effective barriers of prevention, allied with scientific and medicinal knowledge. During the seven years mentioned there worn 33,000,000 cases of typhus and relapsing fever in Russia, and between 300,000 and 400,C00 cases of cholera which is generally succeeded by death in 50 per cent, of the cases. Malaria was rampant, and with the shortage of medicinal equipment and .ignorance of proper methods, cities were devastated by disease. Every second child in the Russian infirmaries suffered from a malignant consumption of the cheek, really a mild form of cancer, caused by extreme malnutrition, poverty, and dirt. Introduction of Prevention. The first preventive measures against disease were taken when isolation in England began with the scgrcgaL:n of lopers in 1314. In the same year at Milan (Italy), a quarantine was imposed on plague-in-fested ships from foreign shores. Furl her steps were gradually taken to combat tilth and disease until in 18G5 the Great Plague, which could never be visualised In its full significance, swept over London. The Great Fire of the following' year burnt out the worst areas of congestion and infection. An important move was made in 1839, when Dr. Farr was appointed by the RegistrarGeneral to prosecute inquiries into the causes of deaths, out of which was born the modern practice of classifying deaths. In 1843 another great health reformer, Sir E. Chadwick, came into prominence, and his work led lo investigations being conducted by a commission. In 1875 an Act was passed which laid the foundation of the modern health system, which has since then expanded to its present stage of development. Medical Officers' Work. The work of the medical officers was to control the water supplies, food, sjwage, disposal of rubbish, risk of infection, spread of disease, and generally work in the best interests for the health of the community. Later developments had been antenatal clinics and child welfare activities, with which was associated the Plunkt Society. School health inspections were another branch of the work, and dental hygiene had assumed great prominence in New Zealand. In 1872-70 the New Zealand death rate was 14 persons in a 1000, but in 1920-24, that figure had been reduced to 8i a 1000, which was probably the lowest standardised mortality in the world. The infantile mortality had steadily decreased till it stood at 40 last year. The Plunket Society had done a great deal towards that diminution. New Zealand, although it had a remarkably low mortality rate, enjoyed great advantages in that respect. The people were for the most part descendants of hardy pioneers drawn from the strongest slock. The standard of living was possibly as high here as anywhere else in the world. Another important factor was thai between 40 and 50 per cent, of the population still lived on the land. The line climate was productive of a healthy and virile race. The older countries were yearly lowering their mortality figures. Combatting of Disease. So far as the speaker knew, typhus was non-existent in New Zealand, while malarial fever and yellow fever in oilier civilised parts of the world was being eliminated by medicinal met'iods. Many people became alarmed in New Zealand over Hie slightest cause, and feared epidemics unnecessarily. On an average more people died from measles than from '.'Jphlheria. It was essential lo regard disease in its true perspective if it was lo he understood. Leprosy had been practically \fiped out of the world, while smallpox, where it (Continued in nci!. column)

occurred in isolated, instances, was generally of a mild form. Steady progress was being made in the combatting of typhoid, of which cases were inclined to be sporadic rather than epidemic. Consumption was being fought by improved methods of living and better houses. Cancer was prevalent, because with the lower mortality the longevity of life was .greater, and cancer was a disease of middle or old age. The care of the teeth was important to the realth, as were proper dietetic methods, a man should by proper living, be able to put forth as much physical effort at Ihe age of 50 as at Hie age or 30, After answering a number of questions, Ihe speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.