HEALTH OF THE NATION

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17133, 21 June 1927, Page 11

HEALTH OF THE NATION

WORK OF'DEPARTMENT.

RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTS. THE YEAR’S PROPOSALS. An account of his stewardship as Minister for Health, was given, to his constituents at the Hamilton Town Hall last night by Hon. .7. A. Young. His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. H. Fow, occupied the chair, and staled that Mr Young had given more attention to his Department than any other Minister before him (applause). He had visited every part of New Zealand in order to become familiar with the different places and their needs, and had entered into the work of the Department with the greatest enthusiasm. (Applause.) Mr Young, who was greeted with applause, said it was not generally recognised how closely the Department of Health entered info the everyday lives and activities of the people. The Department of which lie had the honour to be the head was concerned with the health and well-being of every Individual in New Zealand, from before birth right through life. It administers some eleven Acts, namely: Health Act, Medical Practitioners Act, Food and Drugs Act, Poisons,Act, Masseurs’ Registration Act, Cemeteries Act, The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act,. Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Act, Quackery Prevention Act, Social Hygiene Act. Plumbers’ Registration Act. In addition there was the Mental Hospitals Department administered under the Mental Defectives Act, 1911. Tiio Department’s Policy.

Through its ante-natal organisation it interests itself with the unborn babe. It followed the child through infancy, pre-school and school age, into adult life. It controlled the sanitation of the home in which he lived, the purity of the air he breathed, the water he drank, and the food he ate. It exercised a measure of control also over the factory or office or shop in which he worked, and over the theatre or picture hall in which he sought his recreation. In short, it safeguarded him on all sides while in sound health, and if he should have the misfortune to fall sick, lie was cared for in a building which had been inspected by the Department and by nurses who had been trained and registered under the supervision of the Department. r J be Department undertook some of the duties just enumerated in all details, but in respect of other, worked through the local bodies, hospital boards, and voluntary organisations. The solution of the problems wilh which the Department was confronted lay in the acquisition of more knowledge of the laws of health and the nature of disease, anil in the passing on of such knowledge to the public. The Health Department was endeavouring to meet the siluaDm by an active policy of cncouiMgemmb of research and education of the public in health mailers. (Applause.)

Dealing wiih the research which has been carried out in the last year, Mr Young said this fell in!o two broad classes: —(1) Laboratory investigations ; and (2) held enquiries. The laboratory investigations comprised three studies, which had been carried out at the Otago Medical School under I lie general supervision and direction of Professor Hercus. These were poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis), rheumatoid arthritis, and goitre. At an enquiry carried out at Dunedin into goitre, detailed chemical investigations were made into ttie proportion of iodine found in writer, soil and vegetables grown in different parts of New Zealand. The services of a chemist were placed at the disposal of Professor Hercus, and tiiis work had been going on for the last two or three years. In Hie forthcoming year it was suggested that the range of investigations of this chemist should he somewhat widened. Cancer. Mrs Massey, of Invercargill, gave a donation of ilioOO fo the Otago University, which along with £IOO bequeathed" to the Wellington Hospital Board was subsidised £1 for £1 by the Government making the total sum availaide for the cancer enquiry £2200, of which the' Government provided half. Dr. Fulton visited most of the districts in New Zealand and visited all the larger hospitals, and made detailed enquiry at these institutions in regard to Die type of disease and the actual duration of the disease, the result of operation, etc. His report has not yet been completed, but it is hoped that it will be in our hands in the course of the next two or three weeks. Tuberculosis in Children. A second enquiry has been one into Hie incidence of tuberculosis in school children. This was carried out by Dr. Mary Ghamplaloup and Dr. Eleanor Baker McLaglan, of the School .Medical Staff. The 'consent of the parents was obtained and then a harmless test was applied in certain standard schools, * taking in town and country alike, to determine the incidence of infection with tuberculosis. It was found Dial infection was less amongst New Zealand school children than amongst the children of Hie older countries. Maoris were infected to a greater extent than whites, nad town children to a greater extent than country children. Following upon this test every attempt was made to determine whether active disease was or was not present. In Wellington, for instance, all the positive reactors were sent to the public hospital, where they were given expert examination by a radiologist and specialist in tuberculosis. As a result of these examinations certain children were found to be suffering from definite tuberculosis and were admitted to sanatoria. In other eases, the children were followed up to their homes, and advice was given 10 the parents in the direction of proper habits, open air life, proper dietary, etc., which would tend to prevent the disease from developing. Proposals for Coming Year. Among Hie proposals to be dealt with during the coming year, the Minister said it was proposed- —Further investigation of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) by L)r. Ilcclor as recommended by Professor Hercus. Hydatids: It is proposed, if Dr. Hector can liiicl any spare time, lor him to enquire into the history of hydatids parasite, and particularly to lest the value of certain vermifuges (medicines) in ridding dogs of infection, and the best vermifuge, if any, to be recommended for use. Hay fever: It is also proposed, if Dr. Hector can lind the. time, lo classify the various grasses through New Zealand from the point of view of pollination. This will he a very important and useful investigation having a direct bearing oil the subject of hay fever. Blhmirnatoid arthritis:' II is proposed that Dr. yteonsun shall carry on his invesligalions into rheumatoid arthritis and rlmumalie diseases. Doif're: finally, rrefessor ilei-cus recommends

that the services of a research chemist he retained for another year in connection with the enquiry into goitre. Cancer: The Otago University still tins an unexpended balance of £1590 in hand for the purpose of cancer enquiry, hut their proposals for the coming year have not yet been submitted i to the Health Department. Wc shout" receive them any day.

11 is very desirable that, we maintain a proper balance between laboratory and field work. For that reason the Health Department proposes, as opportunity offers, to devote attention to the following Held investigations:— Cancer: Enquiry into the incidence of cancer amongst Maoris. ' Dr. Ellison, who has been appointed to succeed Dr. Buck as Director of Maori Hygiene, and has already given some thought to I his matter among the Rarotongans, will "give some time to enquiry into the incidence of cancer amongst Maoris. Nutrition Classes: The School Division of the Department has established some nutrition classes in different places where advice is given in respect of dietary of Hie physically defective child. Observations will he carried oul as to the growth and development of children attending Ihcso classes. Anthropometric investigations will he continued. Pre-school Child: Attention will he devoted to the pre-school child. This has been a practically untouched age in tile Dominion. but the School Division is gradually turning its attention to Ibis important group of children, and it is hoped that as a result of their work they will have some interesting observations to communicate. Children Contact with T. 8.: Detailed observations will he made in regard to children who are contacts with cases of luberculosis in their homes. An intensive system of follow up will be adopted, advice will he given in regard t'o dietary, habits, housing, etc. Maternal mortality: Another important study which it may he possible to undertake in the forthcoming year will be one into maternal mortality. We now have a relatively small number ol maternal deaths in New Z calami, and it is thought that a detailed enquiry into each individual case might he productive of some good. This enquiry, if it is undertaken, will be under the personal direction of Dr. Jellctt. Public Health Education. The Department through its officers interviews annually many thousands of people, distributes many thousands of pamphlets, particularly amongst school children, and delivers many lectures. During Ihe past year arrangements were made for the publication of a weekly series of newspaper articles dealing with some important phase of public health. The newspapers arc, perhaps, the best medium wo have of reaching the public, and they exercise a Ircirx'iulous force in moulding and educating public opinion. Thanks. I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my great appreciation of the services Hie newspapers have rendered the Department, and indeed the whole of the community of New Zealand, in publishing those articles free of cost. Al the conclusion of his address, a motion of continued confidence in Mr Young as Hamilton's representative was carried with acclamation.