DIPHTHERIA

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1921, Page 3

DIPHTHERIA

MELBOOBNE, June 14

Is diphtheria more prevalent in Melbourne at the present time than in, previous years ? The report of the Queen’s memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital strongly bears out the assumption that it is, and urges that sore throats ought to receive immediate attention, especially in view of the recent cold change in the weather. At the hospital mentioned 1757 patients have been admitted during the last fourteen weeks. As about 1400 of these are diphtheria eases, the disease accounts for an average of about 100 patients a week. In addition, of course, there are many privately treated cases.

Dr |<\ V. Scholes, medical superintendent of the hospital, declared that there was no doubt that diphtheria was far more prevalent in the present year than usual, the numlier of cases exceeding even the record of 1918. Dr Scholes said that in his opinion poor food indirectly causes contraction of the disease. Bad food produces had teeth, large tonsils, and post nasals quickly follow, and so there results those conditions so favourable to its spread. Compared with other large cities of the old world, Melbourne has far her share of diphtheria, atul. apart from more or less greater outbreaks such as the present, the number of cases seem to increase every year. Dr Scholes said it was hopeless to cope with the disease in an efficient manner while the present overcrowding and neglectful conditions continue. Though not so alarming as to he described as epidemic, the present prevalence of diphtheria is of sufficiently serious an aspect to merit careful attention on the part of parents, for it is declared that the greater number of patients consists of women and school ehildten.