PARALYSIS SUSPECTS AT ELTHAM.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 326, 6 January 1937, Page 4

PARALYSIS SUSPECTS AT ELTHAM.

TWO ADMISSIONS. Child In Critical Condition In Hospital Two suspected cases of infantile paralysis from the Eltham district were admitted to the Hawera Hospital yesterday. The patients were a youth aged 17 years and a boy aged six years. Neither showed signs of definite paralysis but the symptoms were extremely suspicious. Authentic information that both cases were definitely negative and that the families concerned . had been released from quaran- ' tine, was received by the Central Press to-day whn a telephone inquiry was made at Eltham. The elder boy had been haymaking at Lowgarth on Saturday and apparently was |affected by the hot sun. For a long itime he 'had - been suffering from stomach trouble. A New Plymouth doctor ‘ who was called for a consultation at the Hawera Hospital was ialso of the opinion that the cases were negative. Commenting on the condition of the youth the medical superintendent of the Hawera Hospital, Dr. W. S. Fogg, stated that although there was no paralysis at the time of admission the symptoms -were extremely suspicious and the patient was beins held for observance. As far as is known the patient had not been in contact with anyone from whom he might have contracted infection. The only other occupant of his home was his mother, who had accepted yoluhtarv isolation, and all precautionary meaI sures against the spread of the disease were being taken. Child of Six Years.

The second case, that of a six-year-old boy, was admitted to the hospital late last night for observaion. There were no definite symptoms of paralysis but the general ill-health of the child was in keeping with the symptons. The cases were in no way associated with each other. The case of infantile paralysis at the New Plyjnouth Hospital, that of a ycung Fitzroyi man, was reported last night to be still in a serious condition, although he had a mure comfortable day. The Health Department at New Plymouth yesterday reported no further incidence of the epidemic in the district, and the health inspector, Mr F Swindells, definitely contradicted numbers of unfounded rumours which he said were still spreading through the town. On inquiry at .the Stratford Hospital this afternoon, the medical superintendent, Dr. W. Brown* stated that no cases of infantile paralysis suspects had come under his notice.