The Prevalence of Typhoid.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4348, 19 April 1884, Page 2

The Prevalence of Typhoid.

The cases of typhoid fever that have occurred in the city, although lees numerous than the stir mado about them would lead a stranger to suppose, are numerous enough to make people who value their lives careful and cleanly, and to rouse the city authorities and the sanitary inspector into activity. .All the best authorities are agreed that this diseaso, which in its mildest form severely shakes the constitution, is due to foul drains, decaying matter, polluted water, and bad sanitation in othor forms. As by strict quarantine we havo succeeded in keeping out the small-pox, so by strict attention to sanitary laws we might save tho lives of those who annually fall victims to this distressing fever, and many other fatal maladies. It is stated that in Christchurch the extensive and efficient, if costly, system of drainage has reduced the death rate from 30 to 16 per 1,000 of population, and ono writer observes that "Probably a very high share of this improved condition of the health of the district is due to tho concrete channelling laid down in the streets, which now carry off the surface sewage that used to accumulate along the grass-grown open drains and pollute the atmosphere to an extent now altogether unknown. It is a significant fact that within the city belts, where houses are closer together, and every street has its conorete channelling, casos of typhoid, diptheria, and other diseases are not half so numerous in proportion as they are in some J

of tho suburbs, whoro houses are far apart, but where tho streot channelling haa been neglected." Tho progress of tho Council with di'ainago works, however, is nocessarily slow, and householders may themselves, meanwhile, do a great deal for their own protection and the improvement of the health of tho city. In tho closets, earth or ashes ought to bo regularly used. By riddling the ashos taken daily from the fire-place, not only is a vory suitable material for this purpose obtained, but a considerable economy of fuel may bo effected, and slovenly ash-heaps are got rid off. All decaying matter near houses should bo removed, and c disinfectant poured down drains at least onco a week. For the latter purpose, crudo oArbolic acid is cheap and very effective, but it must not be used "Oft metal Surfaces, and being a fatal poison if taken internally, care ittu.t bo exorcised in storing it Whero mistakes cannot bo made. Common tar is also an excellent d. .nfoctemt and is it, cheap one, being procurable at tho gasworks for sixpence n gallon. It may , l_» diluted to a limited extent with water, Thero are other -substances and fluids sold by the chemists, whicli are known to bo effective, but thoso wo havo named are so cheap and good that thoir use about houses ought, in view of tho lessons which tho recent cases of typhoid havo taught us, to be moro general.