SOME NEW YEAR ADMONITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5, 6 January 1908, Page 7

SOME NEW YEAR ADMONITIONS.

FROM THE DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICER.

COMBATTING PLAGUE AND OTHER UNDESIRABLES.

With regard to the prevalence of j in San Francisco and the possi- \ Mljtv of it reaching New Zealand, Dr. j Purdv who has had considerable experience *of plague in Egypt, when seen today stated that it was now generally "realised that plague is no? α-ually com- I municated from direct contact with human oses. It has been suggested for enmc time that plague is carried from rat to rat and from rat to man by the flea, and "this has been definitely proved without r. shadow of a doubt by the reports ■ t , ie rec ent Commission of Investigation in India. Dr. Ashburton Thompson, of Reiner, recently published an excellent • article" in which lie states that bis own experiences furnish little which point, to the transference of the infection from ♦he =ick even to man when the circur.i- j stances have been fully discovered. He , claims, also, that preventive measures j chould he directed not, only agamst the ™t but against the flea. Although romulete extermination of the rat may ho impossible, considerable diminution in their numbers could be obtained by Poison. ~ ~ .. ••D-rin" the last nine months, said the doctiTr. "in Auckland considerable Tumbers of rats have been got rid of by thi- means. Dv. Ashburton lhompson [ considers that the difficulty of arresting rat pla-me is in direct ratio to the bad construction of wharves, quays, and the buildings upon or near them. ilie rational method of defence lies in so imurovin" the construction of buildings as L»tly to impede the entrance of ra.ts , 'to them, and in so taking care of food that it shall not attract them. All other _ measures, he considers as subsidiary to - reconstruction of M-built wharves, ct.ore= and wan-houses, and to such repair and special fittings of inhabited houses as will keep rats outside them -It is easy to convince the intelligent « Jaitv that this advice is based on sound reasons but unfortunately it i≤ very difli- , cult to satisfy them that the consider- , able expenditure it connotes will yield an appreciable profit to the community, and in efficient protection to individuals against losses which sometimes are almost ruinous. ! With regard to the diminution of fleas, it is interesting to know that the D.11.0. has for some time been advocating the use cf petroleum. Recently be has curried out experiments on an extensive Ecalc to illustrale the powers of petroleum in destroying flies, fleas, bugs, and other insects. -Fortunately the progressive Harbour . Board in Auckland,' continued Dr. Purdy. "have already taken in hand the reconstruction of the wharves. Many .of the leading merchants in the town have put up modern warehouses, and after the introduction of a comprehenEive drainage scheme in Auckland, and a ] progressive policy of general improvement, together with the disappearance of many of the old dilapidated buildings ' Etill existing [near! the. .VrhaYVes, and even in Queen-streqt, Auckland will be fairly well protected against "the possibility of an epidemic of plague. The opening of the Panama Canal will no doubt attract E conside.ra.Me amount of trade to Auckland. Owing to the possibility of introducing disease from that source it is ivell that by the time the canal i-s com- ' pleted Aucklaad will have cue of fele best equippsd ports south of the Linai "There is no doubt in the near future also that the general public vcill realise the futility of maintaining so many Email local bodies, and that w* will have one controlling local authority for the ■whole of Auckland. There is no question to my mind, be it efficient drainage, | j efficient scavenging, provision of a destructor, a steam disiniector, a morgue, : .carefully supervised milk supply, the upkeep of public parks and spaces, the regulation of traffic, hot and cold salt water baths, control of common lodgingJiouses, or other subjects which does not affect every resident, whether he chances • to live in Symonds-street, Ponsonby, EpBom, or Parnell. The administration of them should be by one common body. "1 feel certain that once the people of Auckland recognise that they have a community of interests, the progress will Eot be one only of bricks and mortar, hut also that the City will occupy the position not only of being alphabetically tae first city in the Dominion, but also when the enormous tracts of land at preEeai lying idle in the King Country and other districts are opened up for closer settlement, then Auckland will not only maintain her present position as the premier port and the largest and most beautiful city in New Zealand, but also, possibly, the most progressive. "There-is no doubt that where the carcase is there will the vultures he gathered together," concluded the doctor. "Once therefore, the genera! public realise the possibilities of the land in the North, they will Hock there in ever increasing numbers."