INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2835, 17 January 1925, Page 3

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

-- - ♦ 110 CASES SINCE NOVEMBER 25 RESTRICTION ORDER TO COVER NORTH ISLAND. Wellington, January 16. For the 24 hours concluding at 9 o’clock (his morning, 14 cases of infantile paralysis were, reported — seven in Wellington, three in the suburbs, two at Wanganui, and one each al Inglewood and Rongotea, making a total of 110 cases since November 25. The Health Department has now issued an order that the restriction r-n children under 16 attending places of amusement, recreation grounds and Sunday Schools is to apply to ihe whole of the North Island.

Another case of infantile paralysis was admitted to the Palmerston N hospital yesterday, Ibis being from Otaki. The patient, a girl of 12 years, was reported l>v Ihe Hospital authorities to he in not a very s. lions condition. This makes the. fourth case in Ihe hospital. The other three patients are reported to he improving salisfaeforily. Apropos of (he infantile paralyse. scare, a Waihi resident vouches for the trnlh of Ihe following cure, which came under his notice in Hawke’s Bay in 1921 says the “Waipa Post.” A Maori mother was (old by Napier doctors that her 3A year-old son, severely stricken with the disease, had four days to live. She hurried (lie ehild lo her home, a sheep station 30 miles north of Napier and immediately prepared a hot hath inlo which hluegum leaves had been plentifully sprinkled. This treatment was continued at seven hour intervals, and an improvement in the child’s condition was almost immediately effected. This became very marked at the end of a fortnight, and, in three months the child was completely cured and healthy. Prior to Ihe commencement of this trealmenl, Ihe little offerer had never walked and his right side was partially paralysed.

So far as Foxton is concerned, 'here are no suspicions cases. There is, however, the usual number of cases of summer disorders and a case of suspected diphtheria. A correspondent asks whether there is anv connection between the plague of mosquitoes mid Ihe outbreak of infantile paralysis? We are not qualified to answer the question, hut express Ihe opinion that there is nothing to .jnstifv such .a, theory, otherwise one third of the local community would he affected, whereas there, are no cases of the dreaded disease in this locality, despite Ihe mosquito innoenlalions. Mr Robert Newton, of Okoroire, wriies as follows to the Dominion:

“Owing to the. recurrence of infantile paralysis, 1 send you the following facts, which I ask you to publish, for the benefit of others: — Three years ago my daughter aged 10, appeared to lie suffering from this dread disease —-her right arm became painful, could not he straightened and had little power. “T a I once got in communication with King George’s Hospital, and as lie trouble scented to he spreading to her hand and shoulder, l took her up there. “We thoroughly appreciate the

care, skill, and kindness of the doctors and staff of the hospital, who did their very best for the child. The arm was X-rayed and when under chloroform the arm was straightened and put in splints, which were kept on for some weeks, except for a short time every day, when they were removed for the arm to lie worked. However, all strength seemed to have left the arm, and on the doctor’s advice, she was brought home, and for some months her arm was bandaged in splints every night with no apparent improvement. An old friend had advised us long before to try a, bread poultice so in desperation one night the whole arm was placed in a bread poultice and by Ihe next morning she was able Iq flex and straighten the arm —the first time for many m'onlhs. This treatment was continued, i.e. a bread poultice every night, and nothing in the day except that she wa> encouraged to use her arm. In a week it was reasonably strong, in three weeks it w;i- quite cured and Ihe child lias been in perfect, health ever since.”