INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2720, 15 March 1916, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

SIX NEW CASES IN THE DISTRICT

OUTBREAK IN TARANAKI

It appeared as if thore was a chance of the infantile paralysis easing off when on Monday only two notifications were received, and those for tho whole week-end. One of these cases was at Opunako and one at Gisborne. Yesterday, however, six new cases were reported—l at Wanganui, 1 at Eltliam, 1 at Patea, 1 at Gisborne, 1 at Waipukurau, and lat Pahiatua. All of these cases were of children less than two years old. The District Health Officer (Dr. Smith) set out for Tarahaki' yesterday - to investigate tho epidemic on the West Coast, where the disease has manifested itself with uncomfortable frequency over a very wido area.

CLEANSING THE CITY

THE RUSH FOR DISINFECTANTS.

The City authorities are continuing an active campaign against all germs of evil intent. On Monday and yesterday both of the Town Halls liavo been thoroughly disinfected by spraying the walls with formalin, and scrubbing the floors with a strong disinfecting soluthe combined effect of which was to. give the atmosphere a very pungent odour that tickled the. nostrils—not an unwelcome sensation when the good expected to result from such treatment is realised.

The stream, of purchasers of crude disinfectant (Vacuum) for back yards and drains continued throughout yesterdav. ■ Such has been, the demand that up till yesterday afternoon ten drums of the fluid (containing five gallons each) liacl been sold in pint and quart lots. Owing to the active demand and the limited quantity of Vacuum available, no one person was supplied with more than, a nuart yesterday," and in the afternoon the allowance was limited to a. pint though there were, frequent applications for, gallon and two-gallon lots. Tho effect of the wide distribution of such an effective disinfectant (which may be broken down to one of disinfectant to 200 of water) must have a beneficial effect on the health of the City, apart altogether from the immediate purpose for which it is being so freely purchased. ° The corporation's inspectors are paying particular attention to the restaurants and eating-houses of the City, and as the result many business people are taking extraordinary precautions to put their hack premises and jniblic rooms in. hygienic order, which action, in view of tho continued hot, drv weather, mnst be reassuring to their numerous patrons. IN THE HUTT COUNTY. The subject of infantile paralysis was mentioned at yesterday's meeting of the Hutt Connty Council. Several cases of scarlet (fever and diphtheria and one of infantile' paralysis have been reported in the county.

SCHOOLS AND EPIDEMICS

GOSPEL OF CLEANLINESS

The secretary of the Wellington Education Board (Mr. G. L. Stewart)' lias forwarded a memorandum to school committees in tho district on the subject of school sanitation, it states:—

"In relation to the-recent outbreak of infantile paralysis, the board is advised that tlie number of cases within the Wellington 1 , area (which extends as far as Tokoniaru and Woodville) is so •imall that it is unnecessary to close nohools with a view to fumigation, except in those cases where a definite connection is established with the outbreak of infantile puralysis. Tho District Health authorities, however, wish to emphasise at all times—but especially in the'present oircumstances—the necessity for scrupulous attention to all the ordinary processes of cleaning, which they regard as the prime preventative of disease. The Irrr'acatioii Board is keeping, in very close ,touch with tho health authorities in this matter, and will obsorvo every precaution that a proper regard for publio health seems to render advisable. The chairman of the school committee will be communicated with immediately the board is informed of any caso definitely diagnosed as one' of infantilo paralysis, arid In any such case will arrange with the committee for the thorough fumigation of tho premises under the supervision of the Health Inspectors. "With regard to tho general question of cleaning, the board considers that every school building should be thoroughly washed out at least once every term, and the walls also scrubbed 'iuwn. On auch occasions it is advisable that- some appro veH commercial disinfectant should be used in the' quan. tities recommended for, each. Dry dusting and dry sweeping are, for purposes of health, considerec to be greatly inferior to the use of dusters and of sawdust moistened in some dißilifectant solution. As only a very small quantity is required, the cost of the aisinfeetant should not Eo very great. The board is aware that its most progressive committees have long followed such a practice as is liere commended. It is advisable also that tho general cleaning should includo the washing of desks, exterior and interior, of rulers-, and pencils, and tKiTfresi'ruction of aSy papers of little value, or of rubbish of kind. Where special disinfection is undertaken at the instance of t"h© Health authorities, no chargo will tie made against the committee's Accounts, the board having made general arrangements in such oases. What tlie board wishes to emphasise first and laßt is persistency in thorough cleaning.''

WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT

PRESCRIBES

THINGS THE SCHOOLS SHOULD

The Health Department's memorandum to Education Boards goes into greater detail. It reads as follows

"It is desirable that all schools should be thoroughly cleaned t and. disinfected regularly during the present epidemic, and the following method is suggested for a preliminary cleansing by the removal of dust, togottier with subsequent disinfection. Proceed as follows ■

"Open all doors and windows. Strip the want of all pictures,, maps, and other articles attached to or hanging thereon. Roinovo those from the building, and in tlie outside air removo all dust. Wliere the articles would not be injured thereby, they should be wiped over with a cloth dipped l into antiseptic solution and wrung out so as to be just damp.

"Remove all books from the interior of desks. Take into open air and beat together well to remave all dust. Stock them in the open, preferably in a sunny place, until the cleaning operations are over.

"Take a long-handled mop, moistened with antiseptic, and go over the walls carefully using a ladder if necessary to reach to all parts, removing all dust. Particular attention should be paid to treating all window ledges, over architraves of doofs, over mouldings, etc., or any ulace whore dust is likely to lodge. Start at tho top of the walls and work downwards. After mopping the walls, proceed to go oyer all desks aiid forms, first removing dust,, and then wipiif<; over the inside and outside of the desks and forms .with a cloth wetted in antiseptic solution. ")Vhorc deska wid fohns are cntiroly moveable it will tft r WRQY6 -

them from the room before commencing to sweep the walls. If this is done they should be treated as above outside. The best results will bo obtained if tho desks, etc., are treated in the room by allowing an interval to elapse between dusting them, and wiping them over. Sweep all floors with a soft broom. To avoid raising the dust again on to furnishings, proceed as follows :— "Procure some sawdust and wet it slightly, lust) sufficient to make it damp with somo antiseptic. . In sweeping the floor commence at one side or cud of each room. Lay down tho sawdust in a. long line about a foot, broad, or more, if the room is very large, and and inch or so deep. Sweep the sawdust over the floor in front of the broom, carrying it forward as the sweeping proceeds. When the whole of the floor is thus swept, gather up the sawdust, takeit out of th# room, and burn it. Note. —This method of sweeping may be advantageously carried out in all "sweeping of the school floors throughout the year. "If a vacuum gleaner can be hired, very much of the labour and a good deal of tho time occupied in removing the dust from the walls and floors will bo Saved. ,• All floors should then bo scrubbed with soft-soap and hot water. This will complete the preliminary cleansing of tlig school. For Disinfection. "Procure an orchard spray pump with a fine Bordeaux nozzle, and one or more extension pipes. Prepare a solution by adding three tablespoonfuls of Izal, Kerol, or other suitable disinfectant, tto a gallon of water. The nozzle should be set to produce as fine a spray as possible. With this solution spray all floors, walls as high as possible, and desks in the order named. The spray should be put on all surfaces as evenly as possible. Starting at the base of walls, work upwards. But when sprayinc of each room is finished, all doors, windows, -ventilators, etc., should'be closed securely and kept closed for a period of at least twelvo hours. After that period, t-hei doors, windows, and ventilators may bo opened and the room be flushed out with fresh air. This flushing with fresh air and sunlight may be advantageously carried out during a vacation at frequent intervals.

"For the antiseptic solution for washing doors, etc.. a l or 2 per cent, solution of Kerol. Izal. Jeyes' fluid, or similar preparations may be used. For admixture with the sawdust for sweeping out daily, similar solutions may be used.' .

"Where cases of infectious disease have occurred in a school an additional fumigation with formaline will be carried out by the officers of this department. Every school almost, has an annual visitation of some sort—measles, whooping-coueh, mumps, scarlet fever, and so on —either mild or severe, but the question has been asked: Is every School fumigated once a year?"