GUARDING THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 66, 9 June 1927, Page 6

GUARDING THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE

REVIEW OF WORK RESEARCH AND OBSERVATION Press Association. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. At a meeting of the Board of Health Dr. M. H. Watt, Deputy Director of General Health, reviewed the medicdl research work done here in the past year. Laboratory investigations at the State Medical School included infantile paralysis, rheumatic diseases, goitre, and cancer. In respect to tuberculosis in school ohildren some cases were sent to sanatoria and in other cases advice was given to parents. For the comini year work will include continuation of previous investigations. Special attention will be given to pre-school child and child contacts with tuberculosis. An intensive system of ‘follow-up* will be adopted and advice will be given in regard to dietary, habits, housing, etc. Another important study which it is hoped to undertake is one into maternal mortality. New Zealand now has a relatively small number of maternal deaths, and it is thought that a detailed inquiry into each individual case might be productive of some good. Thife inquiry, if it is undertaken, will be -ynder the personal direction of Dr. Jellett, an acknowledged authority on the subject. Closely allied with the matter is the first-month mortality of infants.