THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2598, 5 May 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1877.

Some two or three weeks ago we referred to what was then a matter of rumour—the existence of an infectious fever in this community. After making careful inquiries we could not find that there was any ground, for the rumour. It was reported to the Borough Council, as the Local Board of Health, by its medical officer, that there was no case of infectious disease in existence in the Borough. This was re ■ assuring, and the feeling which had been aroused quickly subsided. We have now to write pf a matter of fact—not a mere rumour; and this fact is, that several deaths have lately occurred, the assigned cause of which has been enteric or typhoid fever. We know that some of the resident medical men say that typhoid fever is not infectious ; at the same time we know that it is included in the schedule attached to the Order in Council of the Governor specifying what " shall be and be deemed to be" infectious diseases ; and whatever the medical men of the Thames may think pr say, they cannot over-ride the law. If they satisfy themselves that they have patients suffering from typhoid or enteric fever; and if they certify that deaths have

resulted from this cause, we cannot see that there is anything left to their discretion, but that they must treat " typhoid or enteric" fever as an infectious disease. Under the old Health Act medical men were liable to a fine for not reporting cases of this kind. Now, by the new Act they are enjoined to warn householders of the infectious nature of the disease, and the responsibility of reporting the same to the Board of Health is thrown upon the householder, who is liable to a fine of £10 for neglect. We have no wish to enlarge upon this matter. We have satisfied ourselves by appeal to the Registrar of deaths that several deaths have been registered as having occurred from enteric or typhoid fever; a reference to the proclamation of the Governor under the Public Health Act will prove that this fever is deemed to be an infectious disease under the Act; therefore it is no longer a matter of rumor that an infectious disease exists in our midst; and the local Board of Health should take some action, in the matter, without waiting for the local medical men to reconcile their diagnosis of disease with the plain directions of the Public Health Act.