INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Southland Times, Issue 18843, 8 June 1920, Page 5

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

SMALLPOX. ANOTHER CASE. Last night another case—lhat of a young girl—was admitted to the Kcw Hospital suffering from smallpox. The patient came from Otago several days ago and it is thought that the disease had been contracted before her arrival in Invercargill. It is intended to vaccinate school children in Invercargill, and it is requested that parents or guardians should supply the headmasters with permission to have their wards treated. Without §uch permission no child will be vaccinated. THE LYMPH USED. There appears to be some misconception in the minds of many of the people of Invercargill as to the nature of the lymph used for vaccination purposes. A short description of its nature may, therefore, be of interest. The lymph is obtained by inoculating healthy heifers from four to six months old, and the lymph so obtained is treated in such a manner as to destroy contaminating organisms. Before being sent out, it is bacteriological.iy tested; for evidences of contamination and any lymph found contaminated is destroyed. The calves are killed after the lymph has been obtained from them and a careful post mortem examination held to demonstrate the presence or otherwise of disease. If disease is present in the calf, the lymph is destroyed. It is now illegal to perform arm to arm vaccinations. All the lymph used now is pure calf lymph obtained from healthy calves at the Vaccine Station, Wellington. INFLUENZA. A FALLING OFF.

During the past week or two there has been a steady falling off in the number of notifications of mild influenza within the district. During last week 47 cases were notified as against OS for the previous period. *