THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service,” MONDAY, JULY 12, 1943 SERIOUS DISEASES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3287, 12 July 1943, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service,” MONDAY, JULY 12, 1943 SERIOUS DISEASES

In the annual, report of the Health Department considerable attention is given to two diseases of considerable concern to the public.'. These are cerebro-spinal meningitis and tuberculosis. It would appear that the/Outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis last year attained more serious dimensions . than was generally realised at the time owing to the fact that official quarters: were averse to giving publicity to figures that might have caused undesirable disquiet in a period of war emergency. It was, it is flow stated, the greatest epidemic of this disease in this country’s experience. War conditions no doubt were favourable to the spread of*it, as was the case during the war of 1914-18, but one reassuring feature of this latest visitation is the fact that by the introduction and use of new drugs in the treatment, the disease has been brought under more, effective control and the mortality rate as a result has been comparatively low, The persistence of tuberculosis, in which there was a higher figure of mortality than recorded in the previous year, has had the effect of concentrating closer official attention on further steps for checking its inroads, and a special division has been organised to devote systematic attention to stricter control of this disease. This is so far satisfactory. Here, as in the case of cancer, the co-operation of the public is regarded as an essential factor. X-ray examinations have now made early diagnosis more easily possible, and as these are now readily obtainable suspicious cases should at once be investigated.