INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2744, 12 April 1916, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

TWO MORE CASES: Two new cases of infantile paralysis were reported to the Health' Department yesterday—one at Feilding, and one at New Plymouth. Yesterday Dr. Sidney Smith, of the Health Department, left on a visit of inspection to the Nelson and;Marlborough 'districts. ; . . ■ . CASE AT MASTERTON. • By Telegraph-Frees 1 Association. Masterton, April 11. j There is another case of infantile paralysis at Masterton, also a suspect. They have heen admitted to the .< hop. pital. . ;. - MOVING A PATIENT A short hut pointed discussion took place at the E.arori Borough Council meeting last evening on a case of'infantile paralysis which had been brought from the city into the borough. Writ- ' , ing in reply to a communication on the. subject, the District Health Officer said that "this case took place in a con- . . gested part of the city, and the parent - was instructed to have the child removed to the Hospital. This the par-' oat refused to do, but offered to move it from the house to another locality where isolation could be obtained. Under Section 33 ; Public Health Act, any person who is suffering from any, infectious disease, may bo. removed to any hospital available, on the order of the District Health Officer, where the patient is without proper lodging or ac- • commodation, or, is living in a house in. which he cannot be effectually isolated,' to prevent infection spreading to other persons in the house." Continuing, the District Health' Officer said, "as the premises in Karori Borough were such that the patient could be effectively isolated, I did not feel justified in forcibly having the child removed to Hospital. ..." Councillor Skegg said that in his opinion it seemed ridiculous that the Act should make provision for removing a case of infectious disease from a bor? ough to a hospital, and yet no provision had been made for preventing a similar case from being taken from one borough or area, to another. Under the circumstances he moved: "That the c-ouncil strongly objects to a case of in- ( fantile paralysis being brought into the borough, and that a copy of this fesolution ho sent to the Minister of Publio Health." This was carried unanimously.