Health Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 94, 12 July 1927, Page 6

Health Notes

TUBERCULOSIS FROM A PREVENTIVE ASPECT (Contributed by the Department of Health.) The question of the mental and physical health of the inhabitants of our country has never occupied so prominent a place in our minds as it does to-day, when not only medical men and women, but statesmen and the public generally are turning increased attention towards preventive medicine —the world’s hope for ensuring to each individual the maximum amount of physical well-being. ACTIVE AND LATENT CASES Let us for a few brief moments turn our attention to that dread disease with which some of us are but too familiar—the disease which we are told almost inevitably at some time of our lives seeks to grip our body—the scourge of mankind, the white plague, consumption, tuberculosis, the “prince of the power of darkness.” We are able to divide the population, broadly speaking, into two groups, those in whom the disease is active and those in whom it is not, or perhaps has never been; but we know from medical examinations of numbers of people that there is a third class which very often acts as a link —a class which, while not showing definite evidence of the disease, has the danger signal up. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN We may hope surely for the day when the child that is vulnerable to tuberculosis will be thoroughly safeguarded. With this object in view, such children will be protected from possible infection in the home; and steps must be taken to safeguard the children of tubercular parents. SUNLIGHT AND FRESH AIR For the benefit of children suffering from subnormal nutrition, nutrition classes have been established in a few schools in New Zealand, and, as the benefit derived therefrom becomes evident, it is hoped to establish more of these classes. The modern type of school building fortunately provides greatly-increased benefit from sunlight and fresh air. The advantage of open-air schools for children of the type we are discussing is obvious. Fortunately, education and health authorities alike advocate more and more the carrying out of all possible activities in the open air. The scientific world of today attributes to sunlight magical powers of health and healing. FURTHER MEASURES Health camps have been established already for physically retarded children. As a stimulus to growth, as an educative principle, and as a regulator of the nervous system, their existence is invaluable, and their extension would be a boon to many delicate children who require consideration in regulating their physical output of energy and eliminating undue fatigue. A great improvement in physical and mental vitality of the children composing the health camp is always a striking example of the benefit to be derived from the simple routine which provides those facilities for health previously mentioned —fresh air, sunlight, correct food, rest, and exercise. An important point in the care of delicate children is attention to correct posture, since the proper mechanical use of the body is one of our great aids in ensuring a proper functioning of the internal organs. Convalescents from acute infectious diseases must be carefully watched, and the holiday period of prolonged duration, if necessary, must be secured before their return to school. The sleeping quarters must be so arranged as to give fullest benefit from fresh air. IMPROVED CONDITIONS Coming to the adolescent population, a gi'eat number of whom are engaged in secondary education, we find in our examination of* secondary schools that chlorosis or anaemia, once so common a cause of lowered vitality, is practically non-existent. This is probably attributable to improved habits of living, especially to the more hygienic clothing and greater outdoor activities among girls. Yet even here we find children who need special protection from tuberculosis. We do not hear so much to-day of the love-lorn heroine dying of decline, even in novels, but we do find the tired office people, the tired child-bearing women, and many others who are feeling the strain of life under conditions which are far from ideal, and who therefore' fall an easy prey to tuberculosis. It is important that all those whose vitality lias been exhausted by undue physical and nervous strain, which pre-disposes them to tuberculosis, should be treated in time. In the earlier stages of the disease they pass into our sanatoria and go forth alleviated or healed, having, we trust, learned what a priceless gift is health —the birthright of every human being.