FEVER AND THEIR CAUSES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1110, 10 August 1883, Page 3

FEVER AND THEIR CAUSES.

TO T IK KDIIMR.

Sm—ln your last issue Mr Rivers, of Alexandra, cn 11a attention to forms an I their causes, also stating, notwithstanding the ganita y p ec.oi ions and aieps taken by the various up-country townships, fevers have been too plentiful of la o. Mr Rivers seems to think that they may partly arise from poisoned rabbits getting in the watercourse, anil polluting the same. Admitting it is so, I think it is only to a "mall extent. There are some old stockyards near Alexandra that is more likely than the rabbis to have affected the health of the inhabitants of Alexandra. Whether the said stockyards' are within the boundaries of ihe township I know not, but a more 1 kely plaoA to breed fevers and its kindred diseases, I never came across. A few months ago 1 attended a sale of dairy ca'tl t at these yards, and the stench that arose that day (it being warm) from bonas, skins, borne, offal, was abominable. The a >oner such places or similar ones in or near townships are thoroughly dean-e lan I disinfected the better for the health and pockets of the inhabitants. To mako a good job. of such places I woul I suggest that all surface bones, offal, etc, should be cartel not less than a quarter of a mile from said places, and then either burned or buried .Then the bottom of the ya ds and the immediate suToun I; i'igs taken' up to a depth of 3 or more inches, likewise carte I away aid buried (what grand manure it Would mike) or covered np wi;h six inches of c e.tn dry soil. Then all the walls, posts, and rocks around about said yards to have a liberal dose of some disinfectant,such as chloride of lime, quick lime, or carbolic acid. Then the bottom of the yards have some few inches of dry clean loam spread Over. Should aiy of these yards he kept in use the same process (on a smaller scale) should begone through at least once a month in spring and summer. Should my suggestion be adopted, T would strongly advise those who taka the j ib, as soon as they return home from ilteir day’s labour to disinfect themselves, which can he both simply and cheaoly done oy burning about a table spoonful of flour of sulphur in some convenient vessel Let the same burn a few minutes tit oue room, and then another. If ho changes h j ;» clothes so that the fumes can get at them, so much the bettor. In conclusion, I a.ay to th" inhabitants of Alexandra and other townships that miy he similarly situated, to call for tenders us soon as possible while the cold weather lasts, and, have those places ihoroughy cleansed, not half done, as is too often the case.—L am, etc., • No. 2. Bald Hill Flat, August sr,h, ISS3