FIGHTING DIPHTHERIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1844, 25 June 1918, Page 3

FIGHTING DIPHTHERIA.

STAFF OF BACTERIOLOGISTS

NEW DEPARTMENTAL POLICY,

Statistics which have been published show that in the past few years there has been an astounding increase, in the number, of cases of diphtheria in New Zealand. There were 747 cases in the Dominion in 1913, 1,095 in 1914, 1,420 in 1915, 2,376 in 191(5, and 5,458 in 1917. This rather disturbing fact was the subject, of an interview which a representative of the Christchurch Sun had with the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health. “There is no doubt,” said the Minister, in reply to the interviewer’s questions, “that during the last year or two there has been a very large increase in the number of cases of diphtheria throughout the Dominion. In the South Island the disease has had its most acute forms in Southland and North Canterbury. At the present time it is serious in the Auckland and Taranaki districts. The matter has received the very careful attention of the Public Health Department, and the studies which have been made show that in many cases the disease is not genuine diphtheria, but a form of the disease which in some instances shows no manifestations. TRAINING A STAFF.

'‘Our greatest difficulty connected with the matter,” continued Mr 'Bussell, “was the lack of a trained staff of bacteriologists for the diagnosis of the disease. This we are endeavouring to cope with. When the epidemic was at an acute stage in Southland we had at our disposal for various periods trained students from the medical school. The policy now laid down is for the training of a number of men and women for bacteriological work. For this it is not necessary that they should have passed through the medical classes or even that they should have studied medicine. We find that the scientific training which many have had in our high schools and universities is sufficient as a foundation. When the scheme is in operation we hope to have bacteriologists stationed in all the principal hospital districts. Their salaries will be paid by the Government, and they will be State officers. By this means we hope to be able tc» diagnose eases much earlier than at present, and, in particular, to be able to ascertain those persons who are carriers, and by this means to limit the scope of the disease. RESPONSIBILITY OF CARRIERS. “On this point, I hardly think we have yet realised the responsibility of certain persons who are natural carriers of the disease. For instance, some time ago I had before me the ('uses of two persons in the North Island who carried typhoid, and wherever they went they disseminated the seeds of the disease, as was shown by the cases which occurred. Whether the State would be justified in going to far as to segregate such persons is a big problem, and one requiring grave consideration; but even that drastic action may have to come up for consideration.” Mr Russell added that the State would certainly be within its rights in so dealing with persons who disseminated disease, and it may be necessary to take extreme measures in dealing with the public health of the community. In the meantime, the public could rest assured that the epidemic of diphtheria was being most carefully watched by all health officers, and that everything was being done to limit its scope. TUBERCULOSIS. It was pointed out to the Minister that the statistics also showed an increase in tuberculosis, from 950 cases in 1916 to 1521 in 1917. Mr Russell replied that the increase could be attributed to soldiers returning because of the disease, or else, having the seeds of it already, developeing it after their return to the damper climate of New Zealand.

In connection with the matter of tuberculosis, Mr Russell stated that the sanatorium which the Defence Department is to establish for tuberculosis soldiers is to be in the southern part of Hawkes Bay. As soon as the Defence Department vacates Te Waikato Sanatorium, Cambridge, the Public Health Department will resume possession of that institution, and it will revert to its original standing as a sanatorium for both men and women. The sanatorium for women is at present located at Otaki.