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Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1946, Page 3

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the Department oi' Health).

(DYSENTERY).

(By

For ten ycars or so' there lnis bcen a steady rise in the amount of dyaentery in this country. At first it occurred niainly in summer-tinie. We still get niore in the hot weather, but nowadays we never seem to get free of it. We have outbreaks hcre and there in the cold wather. The rise of dysentery and summer diarrhoea in summer can be corelated with the breeding and inereasing flies. But in the winter time flies have gone about their business, and we ourselves are the source of infeetion, and we can't put all the blame on the flies in summer time. Our liands and our carelessness in geueral hygiene are partly responsible for the increasing amount of bowel trouble that is aflrlicting us. In England they have liad the very same trouble. For every oue notiflcatibii there ten years ago, there are now 12. But it is cold comfort to us to know- that another country is haviug the saine trouble with dysentery. Especially as it is generally agreed that dysentery and certain otlier bowel diseases can be prevented by observing at all tim.es a higli standard of person al hygiene. Parents have the responsibility of teaching their children personal cleanliness, ,and supervising theni until the training lias becoine second nature in the daily routine. And what are the precaulions against dysentery, summer diarrliuea and such Jike bowel infections? In brief, keopi';i«r dirty hands, flies and other pests, of£ Wasliing dishes, cups, glasses and cCtlery, in hot enough water to dissolve gi'fsase and to wash germs off, and storing ivii shed utensils coveied away from flies''. Bilt hands are the jnain avenue of infeetion. Fingers fleal with handkerchiefs and nose and inocsfh discharges, fingers attend to toilet needs. Fingers have nails — nice ledges for germs to hide under. Fingers are our danger points for many bowel diseases. Those hands, then, must be washed, after eaeh lavatory visit and before eating. The cook ha$ to be extra careful, and so does every one touching food. Very simple in tlieory— but it is not being i practised widely enough.