INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1919, Page 6

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

QUEENSLAND RESTRICTIONS, Brisbane, May 6. The Government has imposed the compulsory wearing of masks and other restrictions adopted. by ' New South Wales.—All3.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WORDS OF WARNING. The news of the possibility of a recrudescence of the influenza epidemic, a recent deliverance of Dr. Colquhoun, of Dunedin, deserves the careful consideration of this and surrounding communities. Dr. Colquhoun said it was evident that the human parasites which originated disease flourished best when their hosts were weakened by famine, and probably also when nervous force was weakened by war, and terror arising from war, or pestilence, or civil commotion. It was certain that all diseases were nursed into activity by overcrowding and the consequent pollution of the air. Our overcrowded schools were nurseries of contagion, and so were all densely-populated districts, and all crowds collected for whatever purpose. In considering the practical question how to fight the pestilence, we had to remember first that all these lower organisms which lived on man were favored by dirt, and disorder, and destroyed, nearly all of them, by free exposure to sunlight. The lesson to be imbibed by us in the meantime was that by systematic attention to water supply, drainage, cleanliness, and housing, some of the chief epidemic diseases of the past had been banished from many of the large centres of the world's population. Quarantine, he thought, had always been a clumsy, oppressive and ineffectual measure. No country could afford to pay the price of thorough isolation (as old Japan did)', and halfmeasures were of little use. We had the example of Australia before us during the late epidemic, and it waß instructive but not encouraging for the supporters of quarantine. All the best authorities had agreed for many years that isolation of infected individuals should be carired out, but that measures tending to harass travelling, check trade, and interfere with international communications were harmful and useless. He could only look upon such ••1; interference with out communications with Australia and America as the

.•osult of panic and ignorance. Speaking briefly on inoculation as a means of protection, Dr. Colquhoun said that without discussing what was a technical question, there should be little difficulty in deciding against the general principle of attacking infectious diseases by inoculation. Considering the number and variety of infections to which man was liable, it would be seen that a large part of his life might be occupied in protecting himself against them. "On the whole," said the lecturer in conclusion, "I believe the wisest thing that can be done is to improve in every way we can our public and private hygiene. In fresh-air schools as against foul-air schools, we have the best measure of protection against the infections to which children are most prone. In good drainage, good water, good housing, healthy workshops and offices, temperance and clean living, the clearing away of unwholesome houses, and tbe destruction of insect life, we shall find our best protection against influenza and other epidemic diseases; and our best hopes of maintaining a healthy and contented national life in New Zealand."