FINDING-THE LOCALITY OP DISEASE IN THE CITY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1361, 25 June 1878, Page 3

FINDING- THE LOCALITY OP DISEASE IN THE CITY.

To the Editor of the <-Hvhe. Sir, —1 observed that the Drainage are about to introduce a system for finding the locality of fevers in thfe City of Christchurch, and registering the same for future reference. I apprehend that much valuable information as to the effective working of this system might be obtained from the Health Board of New York, Tyhore this sj otom has been in practice for upwards of two years. This enquiry and registering is not confined to fevers only, but extends also to all the obscurer diseases, in which the element of periodicity is sufficiently well marked to cause suspicion. Each medical man is furnished with a skeleton map of the city, which ho returns at stated intervals to the Health Board, the preoise situation of each case of the sort which he may have been called upon to attend being accurately marked upon it, accompanied with any practical suggestions he may have to offer for the mitigation of the evil. In addition to registering the ioeality and nature of the disease, *t might be as well to make further notes for future reference, such na the date, state of the weather at the time, and immediately preceding (and by way of endeavoring to arrive at the origin of the disease), description of house —any ventrlation bytween floor of house and ground -state of drains, whether any similar disease had occurred in Vne same house, number of inmates in house, neighborhood thickly populated or not, whore the house slops are emptied, whether there is any dissused cesspool that may be inadequately covered, »i any articles of second-hand furniture, bedding, &e., have been recently'purchased, and where, and any other ideas that may from time to time suggest themselves as a means likely to lead to the discovery of the disease. It would also be as well for each medical man t o keep, not only a diary of his patients and list of their complaints, but also the order in which each is visited, as it is quite

possible for the doctor himself to be the means of disseminating certain diseases by carrying about the germs of the disease in his clothes. With the object of introducing preventive measures, it is of incalculable importance that this system should bo carefully and methodically carried out. It is a simple affair, if commenced in a systematic manner, but I have no doubt that the able secretary of tire Drainage Board, who has lately been appointed for his knowledge and experience in matters sanitary, &e., will fiud no difficulty in arranging the details for the successful initiation and future working of this important, as well as interesting inquiry. Yours, &c., J. H. N.