INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 314, 21 December 1936, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Doubt As To Value Of Serum A communication to medical men and hospital authorities dealing "with the question of an anti-infantile paralysis serum is expected to be issued this week by the Health Department. At present steps are being taken at both Auckland and Christchurch to secure the services of blood donors whose blood is to be used in the preparation of a serum, but from the latest information available the Health Department is doubtful as to the value of such a precaution .

A few years ago it was believed that a serum prepared from the blood of former sufferers from infantile paralysis could be used with success as an inoculation.- Adhering to this belief, the hospital authorities in Auckland and Christchurch are taking steps to prepare supplies. Since the last epidemic,, however, overseas research lias tended to show —in the opinion of well-qualified investigators —that the blood of former sufferers is of no greater value for the purpose than the blood of the parents or of any other healthy person in the requisite blood group. IL is likely that within the next few days a memorandum on the subject will be issued by the Health Depar nient and placed in the hands of physicians.

No steps have been taken in Wellington to prepare a serum, the hospital authorities having decided, in view of the opinions of experts, that such a move would not be of value in combating a spread of the epidemic. The ■ Health Department reported lasjt night that Wellington was free from infection.