INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 9

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Sir,—l wish to thank you for your efforts to impress on the “ powers that be ” the gravity of the paralysis epidemic in the North Island. I agree when you say that interisland travel should be restricted. In my opinion, and that of thousands of other mothers and fathers, restrictions should have been enforced immediately. Perhaps ,it is the loss of revenue that worries the authorities more than the loss of health, and even life, won-ies them.

When I read of Miss Mabel Howard and the Director-general of Health saying they are “ watching the position carefully ” I feel infuriated. The medical officer of health in Dunedin, Dr Dempster's, silence is most impressive, as is all these people’s masterly inactivity. I susgest they open their hearts a little and think of all the children who might yet suffer if the proper restrictions are not placed on travel immediately. Wr read last week of Dr Smirk stating that they had no accommodation at the Hospital in the event of an epidemic—a nice state of affairs. It is more than time steps were taken to prevent the epidemic reaching here. ' Prevention is better than cure. As little is known of the cause, why not an' investigation of the Masterton farmers’ claim of a link between distemper and the paralysis—l am, etc., A Mother.