THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 144, 26 March 1872, Page 3

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY , MARCH 26, 1872.

The alarming statement that several cases of typhoid fever have occurred lately in Aruy-street, Grahamstown, was made yesterday to the Waiotahi Highway Hoard, by letter from Dr Lethbridge, who may be presumed to know what he is talking about, and therefore there can be no doubt about the matter. The Doctor attributes this to defective drainage, and doubtless lie is quite correct. If there be a locality peculiarly well adapted to create and foster epidemics, it is that low-lying piece of land in the vicinity of Cochrane and Amy-strcets, and the whole of the flat is more or less of the same character. Low-lying pools of green and stagnant water occur at frequent intervals. There is no drainage, and the population is rapidly increasing. With such a state of things,

it is no wonder that fever has broken out. It must be remembered to the credit of the Waiotahi Highway Board that, in January last, they wrote to the Superintendent, requesting him to enforce certain sanitary regulations. We are informed that they have not yet received any answer to that letter. Yesterday, their Secretary wrote again on the same subject. The Board also resolved to do what they could to remedy the defective drainage immediately, and instructed their Engineer to proceed to the spot, and make a report to a special meeting, to be hold to-day. This is acting with promptitude and decision, and we feel sure that the Board will do all that its limited powers and finances will allow to remedy a state of things which is most prejudicial to the public health. We all know what a malignant and dangerous disease typhoid fever is, and without wishing to create any unnecessary alarm, we feel it to be our duty to point out the danger which the low lying portion of the Thames is subject to unless sanitary precautions are attended to. As a rule people here enjoy good health, and are perhaps somewhat careless in consequence, hut now that public attention is called to the existence of a dangerous disease in our midst, it is the duty of every citizen to do what he can to assist the authorities in carrying out such measures as can be adopted to prevent the spread of disease, and, if possible, to obviate its recurrence. The thanks of the public are due to Dr Lethbridge, for having brought the matter forward in the manner he has, and to the Waiotahi Board for the way in which they have taken it up. No time must he lost in doing all that can be done to deodorize the stagnant pools in the locality infected, and if Dr Lethbridge or other of our medical practitioners will point out, through the Press, the simplest and best means of avoiding this terrible plague, or mitigating its dangers, when it does come they will have earned a debt of gratitude. So far we believe there have been no fatal cases, but it is bad enough to have this dangerous fever in our immediate neighbourhood, even if no deaths occur. If population increases here, as it promises to do, before long there can be do doubt that contagious diseases will increase. The immigration of poorly-fed Scandinavians with which we are threatened in New Zealand cannot fail to bring a certain proportion of disease with it. A few days ago we heard of small-pox being brought to Wellington, and now are told, on undoubted authority, that we have typhoid fever at the Thames. These instructions may be taken as notes of warning, which, if taken in time, may prevent any serious increase in the death rate, but if they arc neglected, and vigorous measures not adopted, suffering and mortality may be apprehended in a degree very serious to contemplate. As we have said, we desire to create no unnecessary alarm in the matter, but merely to point out a danger which undoubtedly exists, and to exert each and all of our fellowresidents to do what they can to assist the authorities in carrying out such sanitary measures as they may be able to adopt.