INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2839, 29 January 1925, Page 3

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

POSSIBLE EXPLANATION. MILD CASES NOT RECOGNISED. Referring Lo the epidemic of infantile paralysis, Dr. G. J. Blackmore, Director of Tuberculosis InMitutions for the North Canterbury Hospital Board, said it Avas not known definitely lioav the disease was spread or Avhenee it came or wby there should be a number of cases sometimes and none at other times. It Avas knoAvn, hoAvever, that the disease could be .latent in some children Avithout affecing them and one theory Avas that these children Avere carriers of the disease germs. * “Infantile paralysis is not a neAV disease,” said Dr. Blackmore. “In fact it is a very old disease. In older countries the disease is ahvays present hut only at intervals does it assume epidemic form; Avky no one knoAvs. A possible explanation is that Avlicn an epidemic beenss, it attacks all the susceptible children and when there are no more susceptible children, il dies out. That theory lias been put forward in explanation of influenza epidemics.”

Dr Blackmore remarked that I here Avas a, very great difference anmiig children in their poAver.s of resist em-e against disease. Tie did not think that sufficient attention paid to the nose and the Miroat.'AtI cut ion to the throat Avas of very great importance in preventing the spread of influenza and cerebrospinal meningitis. Undoubtedly, a vi ry large number of children contracted the disease in a very mild form, but it was not recognised and there were no after-effects in these cases. Probably some of these children were germ-carriers.

The theory that the disease might he due (o sunstroke Avas not supported hv Dr. Blackmore. He said sunstroke Avas not the cause of the disease, hut there was a loAveving of the resistance of children to any disease Avlien over-exposed to the mm. There was a tendency nowadays to over-do sun bathing. The sun could do a great deal of good, but ii could also do a great'deal of harm if dealt Avitli carelessly. The recent cold Avealher has had a beneficial effect in retarding the epidemic. The patient from Feilding is found not (o be suffering from the disease. A two-year-old suspect Avas admitted from Kimboltou to the Palmerston X. Hospital yesterday. Three cases Avere reported at Wanganui yesterday, tAvo from the city and one from Hunterville.