FRIDAY. APRIL 10, 1885.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 78, 10 April 1885, Page 2

FRIDAY. APRIL 10, 1885.

Although authorities on medical science are at variance as to the exact genesis of typhoid and other zymotic diseases, it is a well-established verity that bad sanitary conditions conduce to the prevalence and propagation of diseases of that order. An analysis of the weekly reports of the City Sanitary Inspector for the past six months— from October rst to March 31st — throws some light on the local aspects of this subject, and assists in the formation of an estimate of the relative hygienic conditions of the several wards of the city. The diseases dealt with are the cases of typhoid fever, scarlet fever, and diphtheria reported to the municipal authorities by the doctors. The result of the investigation is as follows:—

The mild epidemic of zymotic diseases that we have had this summer seems to have broken out early in October, as for several weeks prior to the first of that month not a single case of disease had been reported. The figures given above speak eloquently of the intimate connection that exists between good sanitary conditions and health. The most populous and the most densely populated quarters in the city are the East and North Wards; in some of their purlieus the houses are wretched, and are occupied by the scum of the city—filthy in their habits and slaves to vice; and yet we find that, thanks to the excellent system of

drainage that obtains within the confines of these wards, their hygiene is actually better than .hat of nis-in-urbe Ponsonby, with its green fields, pleasant gardens, well-built houses, respectable, clean - living population, and its naturally healthy position. Our figures show that Grafton and South Wards are the most unhealthy divisions of the municipality, and were confirmation necessary, it would be supplied by the frequent complaints that reach us concerning the bad drainage ot these wards. Week after week reference has been made in the reports of the City Council meetings to the noisome gullies in the South Ward and the filthy drain on the east side of Grafton Road; aud the figures we quote prove that the inhabitants of those localities have not been crying " wolf" unnecessarily. It should be laid down as a principle of municipal government that it is the first duty of the local body to ensure the health of the community. Filthy back-yards, with decaying fcetid matter strewn about them, are no doubt most directly responsible for local sickness, but the absence of street drains is one of the chief causes of household insanitation. Without drains to carry oft" foul wator, neither yard nor street can be kept from pollution. The Council have lately shown sonic activity in pushing on the work of sanitary reform ; a favourable reception lias been given to all requests for necessary drainage votes, and if these are being laid down as parts of a wellconceived plan, and are backed by a vigilant sanitary inspection, the wards which are now aftlicted with a prevalence of zymotic disorders will, wc may hope, soon exhibit a very marked improvement.

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