SUMMER SICKNESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1924, Page 1

SUMMER SICKNESS.

VVCKI.AND. .March Id. Doctors have been considerably ctmcerned lecentlv at the prevalence of summer sickness among children, stated fir. Chesson, relieving Aledical Ojlieer of Realth at Auckland, to-day. In all. -sunt nine deaths had been repni ted of (-hildrcn ranging from a few months to twelve years. The Health Dopaitmont •it once made a thorough investigation, im hiding a bacteriological examination, ami established that the trouble was caused hv a bacillus uiu-h produced enteritis, more commonly known as summer dierrohea. “The organism is generally carried by flies. ! * said Dr. Chesson, “and there e more than a suspicion that milk has hr this means been eontaiiiin.-ited by the bacillus which we consider to be largely responsible for the trouble.’’ A serious feature of the prevalent sickness was that its onset was so sudden. In one ease the iirsi symptoms were extreme drowsiness on the part of the child, followed by convulsions and dinrrohea. Death intervened after thirty hours. In another ca.se, the period from the onset until death was slightly less. A further ease wins ijur.ted where a child returned to school after lunch and at 1.30 ji.ni., was c-airied home unconscious, dying at " o'clock the same night. Thus only five and it half hours separated the first onset until death. The disease had been prevalent apparently since the beginning of February, and as it wa.s no! notifiable, it was probable that the eases which had been brought under tile notice of the Department were only a propoi iion of the whole. Dr. Chesson said it was essentia! that every care .should he taken to protect milk and food from flies. Dairy farmers and milk vendors should also be especially careful.