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SECTION 2. — NOTIFIABLE DISEASES. The Infantile-paralysis Epidemic. This epidemic began on the 25th November, 1924, at Petone, and quickly spread to Wellington. Its incidence until and including the 30th April, 1925, was as follows : — Whole Dominion — Oases notified. Deaths. Population 1,300,000 .. .. .. .. 1,257 166 Auckland Health District— Population 398,000 .. .. .. .. .. 310 61 Wellington Health District — Population 476,000 .. .. .. .. .. 604 70 Ganterbury-Westland Health District — Population 250,000 .. .. .. .. .. 277 27 Otago-Southland Health District — Population 207,000 .. .. .. .. .. 66 8 Expressed as a ratio per 100,000 of mean population this produces :— p Deaths notified. (P- 100,000 of Population). Whole Dominion .. .. .. .. .. 97 12-7 Auckland Health District .. .. .. .. .. 78 15-3 Wellington Health District .. .. .. .. .. 127 14-7 Canterbury-Westland Health District .. .. .. 11l 10-8 Otago-Southland Health District .. .. .. 32 3*9 Severity.—The most severe epidemic of infantile paralysis recorded to date was that of 1916 in the north-eastern States of America. The population of these north-eastern States in 1916 was, roughly, thirty-two millions, and in that year there were 72 cases per 100,000 of population and 16 deaths per 100,000 of population. In this recent epidemic in New Zealand there were 97 cases per 100,000 of population and 12-7 deaths per 100,000 of population. To. judge from the death-rate, then, which is the most reliable index of severity, the epidemic we have lately experienced can be regarded as comparatively severe. This year in New Zealand the number (97) of cases notified per 100,000 of population is high. This probably spells careful diagnosis and free notification of mild cases, which is an aid to prevention of spread and is a satisfactory feature. In the early stages of the epidemic a committee set up by the Council of the British Medical Association and the Department of Health promulgated to all medical practitioners in the Dominion a pamphlet summarizing the symptomatology of this disease, and, in order to lessen the spread of this disease, emphasizing the importance of notifying all cases capable of conveying infection. Age incidence of cases notified — 95-7 per cent, were under 20 years of age. 92-1 per cent, were under 15 years of age. 61-9 per cent, were under 6 years of age. The optimum ages were— Children of 2 years and under 3 contributed 15 per cent, of the total. Children of 3 years and under 4 contributed 13-7 per cent, of the total. These ages give the highest attack rate. On either side of these, — , Children of 1 year and under 2 contributed 11-9 per cent, of the total. Children of 4 years and under 5 contributed lOjper cent, of the total. This age incidence may be called typical. Deaths from Infantile Paralysis in New Zealand Annually. Year, jj Year. 1912 .. .. .. 2 1919 ~ .. .. 1 1913 .. .. .. 2 1920 .. .. .. 2 1914 .. .. .. 9 1921 .. .. .. 9 1915 .. .. .. 3 1922 .. .. .. 9 1916 .. .. ..123 1923 ~ .. ..2 1917 .. .. ..10 1924-25 .. .. ..166 1918 .. .. .. 4 Eight years, therefore, have passed since the last epidemic. The reports we received from the| medical attendants concerning the early cases indicated severity of type, and it was feared the paralysis result throughout the Dominion would be formidable. Although, however, 166 deaths have occurred, later reports from nearly all centres state that recoveries from paralysis have been unexpectedly numerous. We have received interim estimates from Medical Officers of Health, obtained from the various hospital Superintendents, and though these are not yet final they establish beyond doubt a remarkably high proportion of recoveries. These cures are very gratifying and reflect credit upon those in attendance upon the cases. Our death-rate was comparatively high, and naturally one would have expected a'high paralysis rate also.|||That appears to be the usual concomitant of severe epidemics of this disease. Either, then, anjanomaly is presented by our high. death-rate and low paralysis rate, or, what is more probable, a distinct advance has been made in treatment. New Zealand is well supplied with hospitals.