DIPHTHERIA.

Otaki Mail, 4 July 1923, Page 4

DIPHTHERIA.

MmiSTBS IS REASSURING.

DEPLETED ATTENDANCES

AT SQM 00l

CLOSING NOT KKCOMJIKXWED.

j There is something' in the nature of I a diphtheria scare in Wellington, and f in the House this afternoon, Mr. Mc-Kc-en (Wellington South) asked the Minister of Health whether his alien-. I tion had been drawn vo a statement by j Dr. Kwcn, acting superintendent, or | the Wellington Hospital, to the effect i that there was a record number of patients in the institution. Jn speaking of diphtheria, Mr. McKecn asked the Minister if he was aware that that morning' 'to per cent of the pupils or the Clyde Quay school were away through* illness, 20 per cent, from Nontown. 15 per cent', from Lyall Lay. and 107 out of 400 of the pupils at South Miramar. Mr. McKecn askcit if it would not be well, in the interest of public health, it the schools were closed. Sir Maui Pomare,' in liis reply, said there was a mild form of influenza about, and the people “ had the winu up." The <IOO eases in the schools I were not all diplithoietic and although i it; cases had been reported for the : week ended June 26, .they were fairly j well distributed, as follows: Brooklyn 3. Clyde Quay 4. Karori .1. LyaU | Bay 2, Mount Cook 1.-Newtown 2, Pejj tone High School 1, Wellington South I 1, and To Aro 1. The most satisl’ac- | tory feature of that return was that Kilbirnie, which had contained cases, reported none. As regards the closing ot the schools, it was not a measure recommended for the prevention ot the spread of the disease. It was considered better to keep the pupils at school, as no satisfactory measure or 'method of isolation was obtained when the schools were closed. The closing' of a school was a matter upon f which the Health Department advised j but tii decision lo close rested wlf'ii the school authorities. | ADVICE ITiuM AM. us;:. I A. i-ehu't; upon diphtheria and how I to ircii a was given by siller Wed mr at liie lied Cross null in Dixon si reel. We I iiiiyluu, on Monday nlternuon. I T'liwre was a guml an, ■' id a in-', and the I lectin e was followed v.irh lho keenest | inlcrest. j Ucioi'C tile daw ni ry of .'iidi-iovip, ■ said Sinter Webster, diphtheria was a fata.] disoa.se. Thirty4ln ; (.>e out of a j hundred children who were attacked J died. Now if a suflicioirt dose of tuifij toxin were given .noon enough, not I more tiian’oiie case out. KiO proved [ fatal. This, was the marked result of prompt treatment. Some people were j more-susceptible to germs than others. - ! and tiro first 12 years of a child's life j was the most susceptible lime, and | more particularly up fo seven years tof age. Predisposing- causes to diphjUior in were privation, insufficient I nourishing food, fatigue, squalor, ; damp weather, lack of fresh air, snn- ' light, sleep, and rest; also worry and excess of all kinds. Age way also an important- factor. The disease might , ho transmitted in three ways: (1) From ! the infected child; .(2) by carriers I ‘those having (be germ in. the body [but. no symptoms); !?,) missed cases i.e. those suffering from n mild attack and not knowing it',., noth carI riers and missed cases might be deteei tud iiv swabbing the throat arid tesii ing, the swab to he sent to a inboraj buy for examination. Infection was ; transmitted very largely to others j through the nose, throat, mouth, ears, j and abrasion of the skin, by inhaling j rlur patient’s breath, or intercepting a ; sneeze or cough. To eliminate the danger .as much as possible, 1! was advisable to keep a. linen gauze over the mouth, ft should be burnt, not wrvdied. when finished with. The following symptoms were enumerated by Sister Webster. At the once: of the attack they might, be very gradual, or otherwise, accord ing to the virulence of the germ or the reHsiing power of the individual. Til esc p symptoms Poinded weakness, lossi- ■ rude, feverishness, cold in the head. , chapping, and sort??, about the nose J and upper lip. These signs may last •j rf day o>- more. The patient -might ! complain of not wanting to eat or 1 d*hik, of sore throat, and the glands ot the neck might swell. The throat j might he iusi mildly sore, merely red ! and inflamed: or it. might be 'more J severe. like tonsilitis, with white ruches on fiie tonsils Again, the ■ throat might be very .-ore- with yellow j grey patches on the tonsils, and j uvula, or inside fiv- nose. Patches j bt> far down the throat or' of j -0.-hP when the vot<--e would be husky l -and breething difficult. There might jbe a ■■r.-Mipy congdi. The lecturer f • "int-'d ■ -it that simiile -..1d. should ' not he treated lightly or left to take I their course, bid -iioubl be treated, .as i - ■•! i-'u:- from: the beginning. Medical j v- should he so.jnrJit at once. AS j precautions. Sister Webster raid childi ■r-n should no! be rdlowed 1 n attend / crowded rdace.s. If fine, -(hey sho.uld-' i i>-- Irepf orj) jp ' the fresh air and =un- * -hine arid kept .warm with woollen | vest and Clothes and their feet <i 1 The gargle advised by the Public 1 ife.-rhh nennrfmwu was advocated. T; i .should be used at regular times. l>e- | fore meals. Clijldr’en wb n se throats-- ! weir- quiie sound should also be taught jto gargle. Tlie bedroom should be. well, ventilated and if the child appeared nut of sorts, feverish or sick, and complained of sore throat, the doctor should be got at once. Other children should be kept- .out. of the sick room. Directions were given regarding the rick room, the care of utensils, and what the attendant should do and wear. The diet of the patient would bo ordered by ihe doctor. who=e instructions must be strictly adhere,-i to. The food should .be i kept 4n -a fresh, cool place, separate from lho! used by other members of I the household; and kept covered -with i a damp muslin. The nurse conclude'! | by urging her hearers to treat the firs! j signs as serious and fo obtain medical i advice of once.