Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY. NOV. 27th, 1918. "PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY. NOV. 27th, 1918. "PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

With the (influenza epidemic dying down now, there will be time for the authorities soon to turn their attention to precautionary measures for the future. The lessons of the sad experiences of the past few weeks in the Dominion are numerous, and both the Government and the local bodies will be expected to profit accordingly. The Minister of Public Health has such an opportunity for reform and the Hon. G. W. Russell is just- the man to grapple with the task. The reforms will be of a

far-reaching extent particularly in the closely peopled cities" and generally in regard to other .districts changes must bo enforced which will be for the better control of the public health. With regard to the special disease which has been now so seriously epidemic, it is of a recurring character for years past, practically ■fin annual visitation ,but mainly in a mild fever form. The pneumonic development is of later experience, but even in this form tho complaint has been sporadic in this district for some fifteen months past. Cases of a similar.kind withoutbeing regarded as contagious, have recurred and carried off their victims. There is no guarantee therefore that though the epidemic itself might subside now, that isolated cases will nw continue to 'recur in -the future as in

the past. The task in respect, to precautionary measures will be to establish as far as possible the immunity of the people to the fatal consequences of these influenza attacks. Now that the medical profession has had so intense an experience of the ramifications of the diseaso, medical science when it has the leisure for the research worlv

i 3 sure to go fully into this question' oi cause, effect aud cure. What has happened in New Zealand is typical of what has transpired in South Africa, Europe and America, and the same kind of research work will be going on by the scientists of those continents. Tho world will get, therefore, the experience of a very wido range of professional advice as to remedi'al if not preventative treatment. Only yesterday in the cable, news there was the brief mention from Greece of the success of mercurial treatment of the influenza, and as time goes on there will be further information from all parts of the medical world as to what is considered effective measures for treatment . If, therefore, the disease is likely to recur, there is every hope of dealing with it in a more effective way as time goes on. But while we are waiting for this expert information, each and every community must consider ways and means of dealing more effectually with jilt subsequent outbreaks. The record «f events shows that after wars diseases are likely to recur, and if it is not influenza, the next epidemic might be some other complaint more or less virulent. Precautionary measures must be sot up to anticipate any dire visitation of such a character, and the chief work will be in regard to sanitation and communal cleanliness. The general condition of the public health must be safe-guarded by a close attention to simple every day matters which neglected, might conduce to, the creation of a pestilence. There must he a general clean-up and well regulated attention to all drainage matters. Sanitary inspection of all premises should anticipate all epidemics, and not be deferred till the people are being struck down. Greater activity must, be shown and the fullest vigilance exercised so ns to stave off future possible visitations.