THE DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1918, Page 2

THE DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC.

NEED FOR rUEVEjOTVE MI2ASUKES.

Air. A. 11. Kendall, health, inspector, reported to the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday that during the past month, 17 eases of infectious disease were notified iu the district—viz., <l.> cases of diphtheria and two cases of puerperal fever.. Twelve cases of diphtheria wore from (lie Taranaki County, l(i from iVcw I'lyniouth. borough, 1 Inglewood, 13 Egmont County, and 3 ' Clifton Comity. This was.:an increase ol 20. cases over the previous month, and the Macs generally had very little connection with other cases, and occurred, in some instances, in quite isolated parts of the district. Keports on all cases were ronvarded to the District Health Officer m Wellington, and every precaution taken to stop the spread of infection as far as possible. The eases in the Taranaki County were at Bristol Road, Albert Koad, Omata, Kgmont Villas??, Bell Block, Kaimata, Upper Carrington Road, .upper Maugorei, etc., and in Egmont County at Skcet Koad, Kina Koad, Te Kii'i, Oeo, and Awatuna, while those in Clifton County were at Motunui and iPukeho.

The chairman stated that a little while ago the hoard had fitted up the old hospital building as an isolation hospital at a eost of .COno to accommodate M patients. At the beginning 0 f last week they were informed that it was absolutely imperative that further accommodation should bo provided, as there were 34 patients in the wards which were intended to accommodate 21, and, in maiiy cases, "double banking" was necessary.. The House Committee had, therefore, converted the old dining room into another ward to accommodate 12 more patients, and also cleared out another ward for a playroom for the children. The total cost of this, with the necessary beds, as well as providing 12 additional beds in the main hospital, was £.200.

Tho action of the committee was approved, members considering that they were to be complimented "on dealing with the matter so expeditiously. Tho chairman said that the question of tlie diphtheria outbreak was one that should receive serious consideration. At one time diphtheria was considered a fearful epidemic, because nearly all who contracted it died. Xow the anti-toxin treatment had proved so effective that families were getting careless. Children were allowed to go out of infected bouses to schools, pictures, Sunday schools, and other places, and it was practically useless to devise places where the children could be isolated while this continued. A medical man not connected with the hospital told him that they were wasting money in making provision for diphtheria cases, as it was their duty to see that diphtheria, did not como here. The insanitary rookeries of sclio'ols, which were not fit for tho children to go into, were, ho believed, the cause of tho trouble. He instanced a case where three children had gone to school from an infected house, but had been wisely sent home by tho teacher. lie considered the parents should bo punished. The Japanese 'had got SOO doctors to look after infectious diseases, and Sew Zealand had got none, save for an occasional visit. That w r as a question tho ratepayers should take up, for they had to find the money to provide isolation — money that was wasted, because it should not be required. In India, lie said, precautions were taken to prevent the spread of> infection by nut; permitting anyone to go aboard a ship without examination, and something of this nature should be done in the case of children coming to school or other places where children congregated. He considered ratepayers were punished for what was the fault of some Department. Mr. Young moved—''That steps be taken to prosecute the first parent who breaks the rule in regard to sending children to school or other places within the time for isolation." Mr. I!. Morgan, in seconding, considered that in Hie case of children from an infected house, a doctor's certificate should be given showing when tho child was fit to go to school. The motion was carried.