HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 8

HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER

An interesting interview on public health and the results of the continuous effort of the Department of Public Health in the light with infectious and contagious diseases was given to a reporter by the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) yesterday.

The Minister croduced the following return, which has been prepared at his instructions bv the Department:—

1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. Scarlet fever ... 1614 IEOS 2312 4278 2755 Diphtheria 747 1095 1420 2376 5«8 Enteric fever... E6J 859 815 806 653 Tuberculosis ... 1018 957 1019 950 1521 Cerebro spinal meningitis ... . 85 135 42 Infantile paralysis : 10 1018 . 54 "The most striking features of the above, table." remarked the Minister, "are the steady growth of the diphtherin epidemic—-reaching its maximum of 34-18 cases; in 1917, and the rapid development of scarlet fever —culminatiiiE in 42"8 cases in 1916: and the enormous number of cases of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) in ]916, when .1018 cases were reported. I am -thankful to s.ny that during the year 1917 tlio number was 54 only. Though less in degree, probably even greater in importance was the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in 1915, with So cases, which rose- to its maximum of 135 in 1916, and has fallen to 42 in 1917. As is well known, this disease, started in military camps; and though the number of civilian cases was small, yet it is gratifying to know that the 1917 tots I is so much smaller than that of 1918.

"The Health Dnnartment has made a careful study of the figures given herewith, and renorts that though so far distant New fr'nl.ind's experience with rpgard to diphthoria is apparently pinu'lar to that of England, which has also recently a severe opidrnnV of this disease.

"The scientific study of infectious diseases." the Minister went on to S!iy, "shows that ther* are neriotlic ehsriijes or eyries in +lip numbers of ci.vs of ■ particular diseases and in their severity. Sn far. the law of twiodiVity irovming these rlivplopments hns nnt, hpen elnarly Inid dni-ii *•<• flip auHioritine. .All over the world, i-nwever, scVntilp, iipn who dov.it-e th" ; r ni+ention ti ''""Hh. ssinit.nt.ion, O"' 1 hvpione pro r.tudvi'iur tl">sp nlinpo.t; "•iHi j> view " f ns'-ortnijiinc tlin natural 'nivs liy 'rliifh fl , """ er>i'lpni'< , s !>re liroiu'ht nbmit, and in order that pauses may he nuoepssfuHv combated.

Loss Enf*" , '*.. "It is, of course, gratifying to know that that fell class of disease generally described as enteric fever has beeii successfully combated. A glance at the figures will show that from 1913 downwards there has been a steady decrease of these diseases in our Dominion, beginning with 863 in, 1913, while only 653 were recorded in 1917. Fortunately science has shown that theso diseases are largely traceable to lack of sanitation and cleanliness; and tho administration of the Public Health Department has been very largely devoted during recent years to exercising its powers with regard to the drainage of boroughs and the enforcement of the laws of cleanliness upon the entire population. It ie possible that further research may in the same way discover the moans by which diphtheria, and scarlet fever mny also be controlled.

Danger in the Schools. "The examination that I have made into tills question recently leads mo to the opinion that in many districts the storm centres for scarlet fever and diphtheria are really our schools. This is no reflection on the Education Department, but it will be manifest that where children who 'perhaps are 'carriers,, or perhaps have these diseases in an incipient state, are allowed to mix freely with their fellow school children, the danger of infection being carried throughout a district is very great.

"It is also evident to all students of school architecture that in many cases our schools linvo been built under the control of incompetent architects, to whom the question of sanitation was unknown, unci where, on account of the internal configuration of tho school, breeding-places for noisome bacteria are provided. The question of public health is,one which grows tho more it is studied, and its successful treatment can only be assured by detailed effort, in which the assistance not only of the parents, but of the school teachers and the school committees must be sought.

"I am glad to say that my colleague, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, hns hecn making efforts in the direction of establishing open-air schools. It appears to ine that there should be a tree-planting effort associated with every one of our schools whore land is available.'in order that, during the summer season at tiny rate, the whole of the school work should I'o done in the nurp open air, shaded by trees from the heat of the sun. Such a development as that, in my opinion, would tpnd to prevent epidemic developing, and would eertninlv ho an immense benefit to the school children so far as health and physique are concerned.

Tuberculosis. "A regrettable increase is shown in the tuberculosis figures, which, in 1917. were 152 l as against ijuO for the previous year. To a certain extent this is to be accounted for by the returned, soldiers—many of whom, I deeply regret to say, exhibit tuberculosie tendencies after they have returned to their native country. The Health Department is keenly watching developments in this direction. The Waikato Sanatorium ;it Cambridge is now entirely given up to soldiers and discharged soldiers who are suffering' from tuberculous diseases. There are also some patients in hospitals in various parts of the Dominion. The Otaki Sanatorium is now entirely given up to women patients and also to soine male civilians. The necessity of making further provision ia apparent:, and at the present time inquiries are being made as to a suitable district for the establishment of a further sanatorium for consumptive soldiers and discharged men. Proposals will shortly be submitted to Cabinet with regard to this matter. The necessity of further accommodation ;s becoming clamant in other parts of New Zealand. Ths Cashmere Hills Sanatorium at Christehnrch is overcrowded, and on Friday next a conference is to take place between the hospital boards of Canterbury, Westlaud. South Canterbury. Aslihurton, :md myself at Christehiirch, for the purpose of considering developments to meet civilian necessities in the South Island.

"Finally, I would draw attention lo the gratifying results which the Department figures show regarding enteric fever, and what enn be done wn-.'Ti tho causes and operations of an epidemic disease have been mastered. I sinrcHy hope thr.t the nresent yenr will show a huge reduction in the diphlbfi-iii and srarlet d'VPr epidemics, ,nnd the last figures whioll have mines before mo giv , reason to hope that tho present will be n healthy year."

MEDICAL OFFICER'S NOTES "WELLINGTON DISTRICT. The following .ire the notes of the District Health Officer, Wellington, for the month of December, and some com-

nients with regard to the past year so far as infectious diseases are concerned :-

The number of cases of infectious diseases in the Wellington health district (which includes the provincial districw of Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke's Buy, We'son, and Marlborough), during the month of December was comparatively small. The survey of the. twelve monthly bulletins, as supplied in 1917, show that the three months in which epidemic diseases were least active were January with 16li, February with 173, rind December with 264 notifications. Most notifications wero recorded in Juue, when a total of 543 was reached.

Scarlet Fever.—Scarlet.fever has notbeen much in evidence during tho month under review (December), nor indeed during the whole of the year juGt elided. The Nelson district, which, by some, unknown law of compensation, largely escaped the diphtheria epidemic, has contributed the biggest proportion of the scarlet fever cases during the year and during tho month. ■

Diphtheria.—Diphtheria is still active; tho wide distribution of the epidemic is worthy of note, every hospital district contributing cases during Clio month of December.

Enteric.—The figures for enteric fever show an increase over last month's return. Waiapu and Cook Hospital districts have contributed most of the cases of this disease during the year, and contributed seven out of the thirteen cases for the month.

C'erebro-Spinal Meningitis.—Sporadic cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis still occur. For the month of December ono notification was received from Pntea and one from the Nelson district.