INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1925, Page 1

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

ON THE WEST COAST. The report from Greymouth to-day stated that there had been no fresh developments since Saturday there >eing no suspects and no new eases. Humours were current through the Down this morning but an enquiry at L o’clock from the Superintendent of >eu View Hospital elicited the statement that there was a patient there vho was ill and was under observation, >s was natural, every possible precaution was being taken, but there were 10 developments and nothing to report. VIEWS OF A DOCTOR. ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC. " It is very probable that the pie-ic-nt epidemic of infantile paralysis v. ill lot prove to be very serious,” stated i. leading city doctor who has made i close study of the disease, m an nteryiew with a “ Lyttelton Times ” •eporter recently. Tho indications so far, said the doeor. were that tho disease was not ikely to hike a serious form in Christhureh, and, while all reasonable pre■autions should he taken against ineetion, it. was cpiite unnecessary for Jarents to become alarmed and agiatod. Infantile paralysis was both an mdemio and an epidemic disease, and lie Dominion was never entirely free rnm it. Tn the present epidemic it was noro than likely that only a small lumber of children would be attack'd. In regard to diet, the doctor said hat all that was necessary was the ihservation of enmmon-senso health censures, especially ns applied to the n|i.l,k supply. Tt wan probable 4 hat ufection never reached a child by way if food. The disease may bo oonrneted directly or indirectly through lie nose or mouth in a similar way o influenza. The virus lodged in Ihe lack of tho throat ; that was fairly yell known already. The microbe lint caused the disease had been found n the spinal cord, in the throat and it the hack of the nose, and for that eason it was very important for the ihe throat and nose to be kept in as unitary a condition as possible. Facts known concerning the disease mil precautions'that should be observ'd were summarised by tho doctor as bllow Infantile paralysis is nil infectious disease like measles and diphtheria, though not quite so infectious as those diseases. lake measles and diphtheria, it is caused by a microbe which lias actually been isolated. A child suffering from sentic tonsils is more liable to infection tlian a child with a healthy throat. There is nothing in the sunstroke theory, but parents are advised not to expose children to the sun without providing adequate protection. The paralysis is not necessarily permanent and a child who passes through the active stage in a short time may completely recover and no trace of the disease be left. The general symptoms of the disease are fever and acute pains in the limbs. Paralysis may, however, develop without any symptoms beforehand, although that is not usual during epidemic times. Infantile paralysis is an insidious disease, and the trouble may not develop until six months after the patient becomes affected. Tn any case of a child suffering from a sore throat, its mouth should be kent clean with Comly’s fluid. Children should be kept clear of crowds and stuffy rooms, and should lie ensured as much sunlight and fresh air as possible. Windows should he kept open freely. It, is important that the public should not take any notice of the ) multiplicity of advice and opinions that is poured into their ears by people who do not know what they are talking about. \ HEALTH OFFICER'S VIEW. WELLINGTON. Feb. 1. Surveying the general position of the nfantile paralysis epidemic, a health iflicer expressed the opinion to a repreientative of the Lyttelton “limes” .hat there are reassuring signs in this

/('OKS SIMMS LION. It VIII ll&tun, unviv hi- trouble- tirst appeared. has shown j ;reat improvement, and unless the disuse takes an unusual turn it appears o have almost run its course in the apital city Comparing total cases ind deaths, it is evident that the pres-j nt epidemic is milder both in extent ind mortality rate than that of 1916. t is curious, however, that the presut epidemic started two months earlier | hail that of 1916. On that occasion it an rapidly up to a peak at the end of Jarolt, and disappeared (piickly in Vpril. HEALTH AUX ISTRR’S IVAIIXIXO. Sir Maui I’omare. ol , lealtli. visited Wellington Hospital .iiul spent a considerable amount of time in an inspection of several departments in which infantile paralysis patients are being treated. The .Minister states that Hr. B. Ah Wilson, medical superintendent. Hr llobertson. specialist in the treatment of infantile paralysis and its after effects, and their able assistants are doing mostvaluable work. Air Hurley and Dr 'Lynch and Hr Kill', who are carrying out bacteriological and pathological examinations, are also doing great work. “ Everything known to medical science. said the Alinister, is being lone by the experts at the hospital in the different departments. The co-ordina-ioii between the medical practitionei t tlie bedside and the pathologists nd bacteriologists is ol the highest vder, and now is producing the best esults possible under the circumtances. Some of the investigations nd results obtained in pathological nd bacteriological laboratories uurcssod me very much. Then. too. in he orthopaedic department- the spend and carefully continued attention o paralysed limbs will make a wondcrul difference in minimising permanent usabilities and deformities, and no

doubt operations will tlnis bo avoided in many eases.” Tho Minister said be desired to sound a note of warnin''. Althoughtlio numbers of notifications ot iresb eases were now much fewer than they were, he urged that there should be no relaxation of precautionary measures, and in many ways the public could assist by observing and carrying out the recommendations of tho tlealtb Department through its medical officers. If many people only saw the pathetic eases of poor, helnless children as he saw thorn" in the hospital wanK no one would grudge doing all in thenpower in the way of attending to the precautions which had been recommended by medical men.