HEALTH CONDITIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1925, Page 1

HEALTH CONDITIONS

AN INVESTIGATOR FROM AUSTRALIA. AUCKLAND, February 3. With a view to investigating various public, undertakings in New Zealand pertaining to health conditions, Dr J. S. Rurdy, metropolitan medical officer of health and the city health officer at Sydney, arrived in Auckland hy the Marania from Sydney. Dr Rurdy was district health officer here from 1907 to 1910, and before taxing up the- post in Sydney lie was chief health odicer of Tasmania from 1910 to .1913. The information gathered in New Zealand will he given to the pity authorities in Sydney. Among other things. Dr Rurdy will report on the municipilisation of milk supplies at Wellington, the registration and general condition of butchers shops, the housing of workers and their general domestic life, and also means that are being used to check the spread of infantile paralysis in New Zeaalud and other matters concerning disease. “It is recognised in Australia,” stated Dr Rurdy, “ that New Zealand has the lowest death rate, the. lowest infantile mortality and the highest expectancy of life ol any country in the world.” While the health conditions in Australia were very good, it was thought that a general investigation of conditions in the Dominion would do no harm. Speaking of infantile paralysis, Dr Rurdy remarked that in the metropolitan area of Sydney, which contained some 130,000 people, only one case of infantile paralysis had been notified this year. That the disease was endemic in Australia was proved when in 191(5 there were 19(5 cases in Sydney. There was also a small outbreak in Tasmania in 1912. It was thought in Sydney that the propagation of flies helped the spread the disease and flies should he kept down at much as possible. Before Dr Rurdy left Sydney. a Mr Selkirk had announced that infantile paralysis was spread by ticks. Mr Selkirk had carried out expert* porimonts which had resulted in one ol his arms becoming paralysed a few days later. Dr C'lunies Ross and Dr Todd, of Sydney, made a report in which they disagreed with the tick theory. They stated that the tick paralysis of dogs was to the coastal belt, whereas the effects of human infantile paralysis were found outside that area. It is believed by many in Australia that the disease is caused through the biting of the fly stomoxys ealcitrans. Dr Rurdy will remain in Auckland for a few days and will later visit Rotorua, Tauranga, AYellington and Whangarei.