TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2492, 30 June 1888, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Sab Case ok Dii'iltheria.—A , case of diphtheria, which ended fatally, lin s occurred here. Mr Rickit's eldest daughter, six years of age, complained of being unwell a few days ago, but not knowing the symptoms of this dreadful disease the parents were not alarmed. On Wednesday JJr I'airman was called in when he found tho child suffering from diphtheria which l>y that time had developed itself alarmingly. Hvery known remedy was tried, but without avail, death occurring at about midday on Thursday. The poor little sufferer was suffocating when the doctor performed tracheotomy which relieved her, consciousness returned and she was able to speak and recognise those around her, but notwishstauding the successful performance of the operation, successful in so far as

giving temporary relief, the disease which was too far advanced for human skill Lo avail, ran its course, terminating fatally. The operation of "drawing'' the fungoid growth which has sometimes been sutve-wfnlly performed is almost certain to 1m; fatal in its results to the operator, as doctors who have done so, though saving the life of the patients, have too often paid the penalty of their own lives for their heroism. There must be something radically wrong in the surroundings when such a disease breaks out in what should be a healthy place, and the circumstance calls for some investigation so that if its presence is due to defective drainage and lack of proper sanitary precautions it may be remedied. Mr Riclut's house and yard have always been kept scrupulously cleau, but it is not necessary that it should make its appearance exactly when the fault of uuelcanlincss exists, it may

appear first in some house at a comparative distance off, and to which bad odours may bo carried by the wind, thus making the innoeeut suffer. It is a malady one only expects to hear of in the post producing dens, and back slums of an overcrowded or ill-drained town, and not in a healthy country place. Some such cause as that mentioned can undoubtedly be attributed to this case, for it is t;ot a disease that cames without some such producing cause, it behoves the local authorities to make enrjuirivs with the view of ascertaining the source from which it has sprung, and then tal;e such measures as will effectually prevent a recurrence of what is to be as much, if not more, dreaded than smallpox. People are apt to runaway with the idea that in small country towns there is no need of sanitation, but where people are congregated together, whether in great or small numbers, the laws of health require to be adhered to, and if there arc some who wilfully violate them they deserve to be severely punished. The ill effects of such negligence can easily lie imagined where people live within a few yards of each other, and where e; eh small allotment or yard has its well from which water is drawn for household purposes, and which becomes contaminated by infiltration of impurities through the soil. The use of earth pans should be rigidly enforced, and anyone found guilty of a breach of this regulation deserves a severe penalty. Because there has been immunity from disease for a considerable time is no reason we shall continue to enjoy the same immunity, for the accumulation of impurities during successive years, will eventually result disastrously. If such a dread complaint as dipthcria becomes epidemic, we shall, too late, repent of our negligence.