TYPHOID FEVER HOW IT MAY BE PREVENTED. Auckland, April 9.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 254, 11 April 1888, Page 5

TYPHOID FEVER HOW IT MAY BE PREVENTED. Auckland, April 9.

In order to ha%c the r-übject ot the t.yphon 1 outbicak discussed, a Stvji icportei waited upon the above-named medical and wasieeei\ed with characteristic eour' j toy. The usual amenities having been interchanged, the following, intoi view took place. Reporter : I understand, Doctor, thai you have bad eonsidoiabio experience in ft.atnt.uy mat U'i -, and aie inteiesled in (he recent epidemic ot typhoid ; now, vvliat do you eoiisidei has canted tlie spi^ad ot lever in Auckland"' Dr. Eisou : The causes have been numeious, and theiein lie* the gloat, danuer ot the out bleak to tlie comniiinil v. A .solitary ot even a lew souieosot inlection could peihap- leadily be leinoved; )>ut where wi lind tin' taws ot health and s nutation gemrallv biok<n and so badl\ adtumistcied a-, to allow nuinv -oniec- oi infection, it would bo dilhcult to gauge tin extent of a disaster which might ov ci lake out t■l r x hoin aeeumulat my nuisrtiiLcs amongst, a lame and mci easing population, tn m> opimott, the eau-es of pievious outbioaks and ot the pioscnb epidemic a.c (1) Open side <■ hatin Is in oi out stteets, ( oimmuneatiug wtlh duedtnusby pipe-* (otien Enokcii', (ii, \\ hut, 1- nnii. daugi'iou» -till, wooden drain- Through thc-e, liuus dutj water, containing (he letu-e and washings tiom decomposing vegetable and animal inattei. vvlneh, loi want (it ' Ilieient flushing, deposits and ,-at mat ex (he sod <>! the opui .sheet channels The-e become, m w.u m weathei, little bettei t ban innu.it vi i i es-poo!s. still) in.; v ith i;iMi)h ot di-ea-t and dialh !•> tho-t w ho bie.ithe the poisonous e\li.dat ionl ncaud toi and unwatthei 1 • hildien alien lin-ei and pia\ b\ the.se < e-M-wwl-, and -ann'tune- uluin to then imnn^ but to mi ken and die. I bay etiai ed many ia-e-ot dine-- and disease hot iv in ho-pital an<l piivate piaotiee to t hi-, soviet lav oi toi Hut. Do, toi, welmd in Mil l)ouim t'nain.igt b\ open tide < hainiels almo-t nnneK-allv UM-d. I 'l l>i-on tiianU d, wilh (In- nnjic/ laut additional pieeautiou th.it t ; «'\ have tiu^ie a i out lmioih -t team >'t vvalei <on stantlv Hu-hinii and -. \\ 1 1 1 1 \ i au\ m,^ av\a\ lmpuiitu 1 -. fioiu the habil.ition^ of the people. So «aion;, r i-, the luuent, and ot siieh a ilepth, that dnmnini; ca^e- base ot tuned m the -ide channel^ or ilu < it> Moteovot, open diaina<a (oi'ii with tin-. precaution) i» now eoniknui'd, aiid Melboui ne l- not a he ilth> cil) , /yniotu dt-ea-e-bcinc prev.dcnt (21 A -eeond yieat cau-e will be tound in tIK almo-t univei-.d adaptation ot tht enth eto-ct -)-tem nhil-' m> xtith ". n>nl The deeompo-inir e\eieta in time -atuiate tin. wonduoik, allowing tin- tonn.ition dt tod ua-t- and dire.i-e ljcmu-. r.vcu Fiji f- ah' ad oi u- m tin- mattet in-pOLtoi-. thoio M'-vt \\.i!,nlai l\ .md-e*. that tht. Ciiuh teeeptaele l- lepleiu-hed b\ the ownn, in vlet.ivilt ot which hcav\ iiiu-.ne mlliLti d (5) iioii'-e diam- unvenhl.tted, un tia[iped (oi deN( 1 1\ l\\ -o) oon-t itut. anothei pott nt -oin it ot di-t<i-c in Au< kland 'Ilu aie r.'ielv lai 1 with -iitiicii-nt taic y;cuei<ill^ b\ eontiaet and b\ a kiUotnci who doe- ii'it. a all iLab-ethenn))oi tarn c and ic-pon-ilnlit) itf.iclud to tin- paitKtd.ii kind ot woi k Samtai \ plumbmu, though an e-tabh-hed ])iok--ton dt Home, i- lifie in il- intancv \\, I'uiil watt! tank-<tl-o take apkuein the t au-.itiou ot oui di-ea-c- and moi Lalu\. v i.t thi it tilth) i ondition m tnau> hou>eIfow <ould thu> l>e otheiv\i-e' \iithii i u\ ci - nor pipe- dneeted mt i them, no in tci i epii'i -. piovided, no matter how simple. [Th Although neithei m piivate noi ho-pilal practice have 1 lieen able to \ tiate t <i-e-^ to dncet mtection fioni , milk, -till, horn what 1 have heaid j aii-l knovi, thcte i" little doubt that -onit Aueklaiid dautc- pla) an impoitant pat t in the e.iu-ation ot d^e t i-e Onlj the iithiid.u I in-pei_tt d one . and tound \v lth- j in a tew leet (mfact, alnu^t bencatli it) ot tiie -hedwlieie thccov\- weie milked a -tiiikm^; (ham, which eoim^ed all the nhi-t tiom tin >u\\maiktl biewcite^ to | tin -ea , v\lul->t then^ mi^tit lie iound n. ] elu-t i>io\unuy a '-oap woik-. lletoid^ and M it i^t ic - have i subhtdiul the iact that. ai)ion^-t the ino-t piolific -OIUCL-. o! di-ca-e anii'iiu-i laijje LUiiiiiumitii - Mand 1 - im'k, w hit ii liatt been imp 1 equated uit h i in- deny id ti oin -ev\ ci - and -o ip wo! k- SUtuinint nid putnd vvatei u hicli liad !)( en allow ed to letn.un in ua-ih 'iou->e- and l),ick\anK oi W\, llin_ f hou-i -, aloiif; w lib the pei eolation ot watt i f i oin fu tal tkpo-it^ into u til- u-l(1 !"i dimk>nt> Mippl), )>a\e been the j^ieat ' (.ui-t- ot typhoid amount oui counliy -ettlei- Atnon<;-t the cau-i- ol ' lt>ml ninlii i rr/,v ii, the mi imty bay c boon the following — I I I) In-'nntaiy condition ot clouts at I'on--onby tuvm stable- (-uu c de^ttojod). {2) VJ]\\v,h\ tiom ofl.d and iefu-e of tnnneiie-, and abominationat the Western Spring- contiibuted -eveial ea-t? (3) >.ortiicvly winds- and hi^h titles dnv- \\\£ sewer oa» befoic it horn the main sew (r to the h'^he^t cit) loveK. wheie ill- \ encilated and unuatcrtd tia))^ allow iiee p ,i\ into the houses of out l»e^-t eiti/ens m >S> mond--s.bieoL and eKewheie. (4) The (!icy-j-ti'oot, .Jcr\ois I load, Victoria Avenue (Eden Tcirace) outbieak^ may well ha\e found tlieii on^in witli tlio aiehitectural atrocities which abound in tho^e di^tiict^. Thu- we find in .ler- ' vois jioad (speaktni; tiom memory) a block of Ihi ce !m -loomed eot tapes, witli balconies, etc. , which havt bten built, on jXiound that ous>ht to have been tin front' maidens of tht eo otbei , but Mimllor, cot tages to the lear, and so clo-t aie they and so v lciously ai landed that the [)ii\ie- of tlie front ones .stand within a few teet of and lacing' the hall dooi and tiont window ot the back cottages. (5) Stables are aW> allowed to adjoin dvvislHn^-houscs, and in Vietona Avenue there are now two typhoid eases whose oii^m 1 have assigned to these causes. Time will not permit me to comment upon buch outrages on common decency, which arc the outcome of eithet gio-h ignorance, neglect, or cupidity, and continue to lcmain monuments to the criminal administration of the municipality which allows them. I have now recoided what, in my opinion, constitutes the main causes directly contributing to the insanitary state of our city and to the prevalence of typhoid. However, before completing my list let me add two other, though less active, .sources of disease nob sufHciently recognised in our midst. I allude to the building of houses on " made ground " made up of refuse, and on swamps which had been unprcpaied by a layer ol .some impervious, material. There is also greq-t ignorance and recklessness shown in the efticient isolation ot those ?u tiering from contagious and infectious diseases, and those in immediate attendance upon them. The same precautions which are necessary to prevent infection fiom the aflected whilst living should also bo taken after death, and observed until the body has been consigned to its grave.

Iteporfcor : What local reforms would you suggest? Dr. lSi&on : The lirnd .stop in (,hc direction of rctorm should consist, in municipal reorganisation. 1< i.s monstrous, that pottoiintr little corporations should om^l in Newmarket. Nowlon an I Particll. It dopiives the contial boily of tin- .services of it, tow jj-ood men who would make Useful members. Has not the division of coi porate control led to jM'noral inelliciciiey and confusion, placing Lhe ollico ot a councillor at. a discount/, whilst the a Hails of <he city aie gradually falling undci the. contiol of t,iio ie.sidtium ol our mcrcintile population '! The Hi! miii£>ham system ol one eential body, our ci\ ie machinery, one local board oi health pi oxides by its contiali.sation of resources and auihoiily 'he inosi, competent and i ep) esenlathe ooun(;illors, thu ablest officials and the mo^f pertiut. civic ornanisji(lon in (he world. !>ankiupt. boioii'_;h councils, ineompcJcMC) and ila<riant. abuses wdi bcfoie 'odl 1 - toice out citi/< n^ to demand letoini in tlie dnt(ti<»n indh.iUd \"am, sjih c i.ho tenant. conti 1 1 > 1 1 1 « • m his icnt.il to the landloiil louaid-. the payment ot tin i ity late--, Ik -hoidd tlieie foic have a vok i in ( lie (;1( elion o\ membei.s to the ( \mncd, and not h.i\e that'bodv but (lie (led of lease .md hoiiseholdei-. Kuithei. ;^ not. tin; tenant tin most deej'lv intiu^ted in coipoul' -.inatoi i<d admini^t l.it ion, and ho >-ii(lei~ nun Ii ,is hi* tioni (l'( c iiisctjueucts of niuiiK ip.il in< ompctency ' l{ep<'itir - Complaint h<t> be< n made l'ia/. the sy»|i m ot ni^hl soii lcnnnal is meilioent m consequence of people b.:Min<4 t !)'■ to < ,il m. it ti i a l)i in I hen pn mis< -. Di I'j -on The |> i\ my \ n llk eanym^ <>.it oi tl), mylit sdil >.i lii'im' »limil I he dt--I'liai ned ii\ the laniUoid-., "v < n t)i<;ii!_ r li .t slii_>|)( liii'H.isc n| ient.il be lefjiiiiid toen ■il ili* t luMii todo it The tenant i\ai<of ti u on ihe mo\c, and, like lhe ttuoaiiud mcienit nl. liaid to yet ,it Kcpoitci Would \oii plat c the local Uo.ud undei the contiol of an e\peil .Hit 110 l I' N ' \h JOi-on Cei(,iinl\. A pioumta! bo, ud upon the line- <dit aih .idvotaled i>\ mem a >eiic> of aitnli-, m \oui moiniiiu confempot.i! \ , -hould lie il l .it i d in oi dii to act a^ ,i lioiiid ot ,i(|\ni and lonliol !Ik "<!)•• or (he public health, and -imiio tin eiln tt'iii adiiiiui^t lat ion vit tin. hual luailii bodle-. thi oiiLilititit 1 1" pi ov mm <■ }i(;ioltci \)i> \mi ,|i_;i ct with t ho-c '.\ ho think it inadv i-.u'ilc to >:i\ <• [>t onuneni to thc-e matteis f()i ieai ol < au-ine, panic and doin L> in |iv vto the cit \ ' j l>i l'/i-on Tin elloi (^ .ippaient 1\ niadi to coik c.il mat ti i I»,\ the non pnbln .iiion ol it hni)-, undei the fin te\l >.t axoidniLT ,i pann , at<' a- ( umnia! in elli i t ,h (lies aie ! idiot I- in roMi'i^ilmi) Tvvtie infinite I\ 1 lift ( i I tn place post ci -on the dv\ clliui; plac i - of tin allictid, as I liavc -^cii .uiopii'd b\' the C'an.aban \u alt h .uithoiitus 'L'heieiiii) (lancet ol panic oi spu ,id ot di-caT s\ hen all know the plastic spots, and the public aii' enabled to unite and si.mip 'ht'in out as they would the smouldei in<j hiilh'i- ot a tin eat enint, 1 " contliiut.it ion lunoianee o' f.K I- /done creates aiai mi, and the hail Mtp pies-ion ol the 111 1 ut h but pi iy^ th"pattoi the eeeetit! ic o-tncli bud, who pla ed his head in the sand and theieupou unarmed his l)od v w as likeM ise hidden. - S(ai .