The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4046, 16 December 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1881.

Evjeby cablegram received from the capital of New South Wales conveys intelligence of the spread of small-pox. The utmost endeavors have been exerted by the Health Officers to prevent the spreading of this horrible epidemic, but without success. Although people have expressed an opinion that the dissemination of the" disease was the result of medical carelessness, we are not so satisfied that that. in the cause. It is well known that one of the main agents in the propagation of small-pox is uncleanliness, and to that may be principally attributed the spread. Were the people to recognise the necessity of living in clean and tidy, houses, and were they to take the utmost

precautions in keeping their residences in a decently respectable condition, there would be less of the vile epidemics now raging in various colonies ; but so long as there are no stringent regulations in regard to the cleanliness of domiciles, so long will small-pox and fever be ills to which the flesh is heir. Let the citizens of the Thames consider this fact, for the above remarks apply equally to this place as to Sydney, where the direful disease is spreading in spite of the strenuous efforts of the faculty to suppress it. For the last few months fever has been a scourge to the Thames, and although the number of patients have decreased there still remain a few of the afflicted ones. Let the Councils of the Thames Borough and County set an example of cleanliness by causing the drains to be thoroughly cleansed and kept regularly in repair, and' not, as at present, agents of death and disease. But it is no use confining themselves to this. They must go further and insist that the Health Officer does his duty in bestowing his inspection on all and sundry or their efforts will be without success. If the two local bodies do this, and the people with one voice agree to look upon " Cleanliness as next to Godliness," there is little fear of our being inflicted with the terrible scourge now raging in (he New South Wales Empire City v '