TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2502, 24 July 1888, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

The Diphtheria Epidemic.—Wβ are glad to hear that this disease appears to be dying out. No fresh cases have been reported for the last few days. So far only three deaths have been reported out of fourteen or fifteen cases, Dr. Pairman's treatment proving successful if adopted at the beginning of the attack. This school has been closed for another week, Kihikihi and Te Rahu schools have been closed as precautionary measure. The good effects of closing the dav schools may be entirely counteracted by having the Sunday Schools open as usual, for there is no denying the fact that sufficient care is not taken to avoid communicating the disease by people in whose houses it exists. No attention or effort is paid to isolating the houses or the members of the family who are iiiwt infected. People fresh from the sick room are to bo seen daily in tha shops and other public places, and it is quite easy to convey the infection by this means. No doubt whatever fumigation of the house is attended to, but it is very questionable whether proper attention is given to disinfecting the clothing and persons of those who appear in public. " Faniilarity breeds contempt," and because pome do not complain they doubtless forget that they can very easily carry the germs of the disease in thoir clothing, and an give it to others. While it is in a house as little communication as possible should be allowed with the public, and savin? the medical attendant, people should keep away from all infected houses. Friends visit to sympathise, but under the circumstances it would be very much wiser to stay away. If careful enquiries were made we believe that some of the oases could be traced to this cause. Funerals also should be conducted privately ; people attend out of respect or sympathy, but no sensible person would feel hurt at the absence of friends from the funeral of a member of his family, and no one from any house where the disease exists should attend a public place of worship until all danger of communicating the infection is over. Almost every householder is taking the precaution of fumigating his house several times a day with sulphur. It is a very wise precaution, and may certainly be the means of warding off an attack. Several reports of deaths and sickness have been circulated which were utterly without foundation. How they originated no one knows, but people should be careful before circulating unfounded rumours, which, though not causing any positive harm, have a very depressing effect on vni'mna persons.