INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2049, 9 April 1907, Page 2

INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

In view of the fact that during March throo eases of enteric fever, six of scarlatina, and two of diphtheria were reported to tho District , Health Ollicor us having occurred in Gisborne, % “Times” reporter saw some of tho medical men of the town and inquired as to tho cause oi tho outbreak of infectious diseases and as to tho prospects of tho early erection of a special ward at tho Hospital for doaling with such cases. There are at present, two or three •cases of diphtheria at tlio Hospital, and these are accommodated in that part of tho Hospital which was specially built for such cases, but winch was recently addod to the main buil 1ing. There is here accommodation for about eight patients.

A SERIOUS VIEW. Tlio first. gentlemen approached said that there had been talk lor the past five years of erecting an infectious diseases ward at tho Hospital, but so far nothing had been done. Plans for the building were in Wellington, but in the meantime llio disease was spreading in Gisborne and district. Personally he had two eases of diphtheria at Ormond n.d throe in town. In one case the sickness was in a house where two i amides were crowded together with a multitndo of children. The centre of the disease was now among tho peoplo, and nobody could tell where it would stop. As to the plans lor the building, there was no need lo get them from Wellington—a ay of the local builders, in conjunction with a medical man, could prepare them. At present lie was often .liked by mothers what could be done with ~ick children, and he had never -my reply. It’ was impossible to got people to nurse those afflicted with infectious diseases —when a wife was attacked her husband had frequently to neglect his work that he might nurse her. A building should be erected at once, or temporary premises secured. Anything would do—a building could be secured which could be burnt down when it had served its time. A short time ago there was a death in the district from diphtheria. Diphtheria was a disease of tho soil. Tho houses in Gisborne wore so badly lighted, so crowded together, so small, and built so close tb the ground, that there could be no surprise at diphtheria making its appearance from time to time. The most important of these disqualifications was building too close to the ground. Medical men bad for long advocated that all houses should be built over some impervious surface. On alluvial ground or any low flat the danger was greater. In such places there was no sub-soil drainage water .was accumulated close to the surface of the ground, and afforded excellent breeding grounds for tho germs of infectious diseases. SURFACE DRAINAGE WANTED. Another medical practitioner when interviewed stated that the ward was badly noeded, and that he had become tired of agitating for its erection. As soon as the recent damp weather came on the germs of infectious diseases were drawn up to tilt surface of the ground, and in addition to the more serious diseases, there were a large number of affectec throats (first cousin to diphtheria) ir town. These diseases wore mainly caused by the surface water not be ing drained off ; and in Customhouse street, where the road had heel raised above the level of the floors o: tlio houses, much of this water woult collect. A certain amount of surfaci drainage would be carried out by tin pipes for the town’s water supply, ai a lot of surface water would be car l ied off along all the pipe-lines Summer diarrhoea among children, which was infectious to a degree, wai at present very' prevalent; but on< could not be surprised at that, be cause the drinking water held in solution all the dust blown from the roads on the housetops, and the residents of the town were drinking “concentrated essence of muck” in place of water. As to the proposed ward, Dr. Mason visited the town in collection with the matter a year and a half ago, and there had been a lot of talk. He had also paid two subsequent visits; but the scheme got no “forrader”—evidently the plans for the ward had been pigeonholed in Wellington in the approved British War Office style. A REASSURING OPINION. The next gentleman interviewed said that without doubt the ward was necessary. In Auckland a great outbreak of infectious diseases had followed the breaking up of tho roads for making lie ramways, and the present outbreak in Gisborne might be traced to tho digging of trenches for the water mains, Hospitals for infectious diseases should be well away from general hospitals, should bo separately staffed, and should, if possible, be built of wood so that they could be burnt down when they had served their time. There should bo one bed provided for every thousand of- the population sought to bo The outbreak in Gisborne at, present was' not very serious, and tliero was no reason for securing a temporary’ hospital. Diphtheria could be treated in a main hospital, if the patients were kopt in a section to themselves. In Auckland it was found that if diphtheria and scarlatina patients wore treated together the diphtheria patients developed scarlatina. Tho local outbreak should not frighten anybody—w could very well wait till the approvei plans of the proposed ward were re turned in due course. At the sam tho ward was a necessity, an< should have been erected years ago and when the building was being pu up provision should bo made for tin increase of population during tin next four or five years, for the towi was a growing one. Gisborne wa. .in a happy position as regards in fectious diseases. The life wa really suburban, and it was quiti different to a town where inicctiou: people were huddled together. Ow ing to the fact that its populatioi was very scattered Gisborne was frcei from infectious diseases than any town of its size. Typhoid had beer rife at times owing to defective drainage and insufficient water sup ply, but it would continue to b« comparatively free from infectious diseases until the houses of the peopk became crowded together. CONCLUSION. These interviews emphasise one point—that an infectious diseases ward is highly necessary. Doctors have a notorious habit of differing, and in this case they are not unanimous about certain details. In a general way the gentleman who affirmed that life in Gisborne was purely suburban is right, but he could be shown localities in the town where overcrowding of residences exists at present; and though the gentleman quoted spoke lightly of the present outbreak and affirmed the general healthiness of the town, he was very decided in saying that the ward was necessary. There can be no doubt that there has been disgraceful procrastination in getting the plans for the building, and it is to be hoped that the responsible authorities will see that tho ward is erected as soon as possible. Opinions may differ as to whether the ward is wanted specially to deal with the present outbreak in Gisborne; but ail tho gentlemen interviewed were of the decided opinion that the town should not be without it.