OUTBREAK OF FEVER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 107, 5 May 1908, Page 3

OUTBREAK OF FEVER.

THE DRAINAGE QUESTION. The Grey Lynn Borough Council last night decided to give the Mayor (Mr. George Savers) and the Health Officer full power to act in the matter of taking steps to put an end to the outbreak of fever in the vicinity of Cox's Creek, Richmond. As a result of a conference between the Mayor and the District Health Officer, Dr. Purdy wrote suggesting that as the outbreak appeared to be confined to a small area, temporary drainage work should be done there. He also suggested that the Council's representatives to the drainage conference should strongly urge this outbreak as a reason for the urgency of linking up places like that, and the Arch Hill gully, with the general drainage scheme. The Health Officer also forwarded explicit instructions as to how to deal with cases of enteric when they occurred. He also complimented the Council upon disinfecting houses infected, free of cost, and also supplying disinfectants without charge. He considered that was a system that might be copied by other local bodies, as it was only reasonable to do that at public cost in the general interests of the public as of the individuals afflicted.

The Mayor said this outbreak was only another evidence of the absolute need for the carrying out as speedily as possible the comprehensive drainage of Auckland and suburbs. As soon as he heard of the outbreak of fever at Cox's Creek, acting on the advice of Dr. Purdy, men were sent to the houses with sealed pans, and every possible precaution was taken to try and check the spread of this disease. A letter was also read from Mr. Williams, stating he had sent his son to tho hospital suffering from typhoid. He, stated he resided in Richmond-road at the lower end about 300 feet direct from the outfall of the city Fewer. He was strongly of opinion that the sawdust deposited into the intake at Cox's Creek dammed back the sewage.

The Town Clerk, Mr. K. Irwin, said he had not received notification from the medical man in attendance on the writer's family, regarding this case. Under the Public Health Art doctors were compelled to notify the local authority in cases of infectious disease. Several cases that had been notified were after the lapse of three or four days. In four cases the doctors reported to the City Council instead of to the Grey Lynn Council, and much valuable time was lost. There was a case in Willianison'savenue, he heard about on Saturday, and yet no formal notification had yet been received from the doctor. Another case was sent to the hospital, which had not yet been notified to him as local health officer.

Mr. G. J. Garland moved that the Mayor be given power to act with the Health Officer, also that a copy of Dr. Purdy's most valuable letter be sent to all houses where typhoid existed. It would also be well to advertise the letter. If medical men did not report cases of enteric they were liable to a penalty of £5, and if a case could be proved it would be well for the Council to take action.

Mr. J. H. Muldoon seconded the motion.

Mr. J. H. Holdsworth said the Auckland City Council was responsible for a good deal of the sewage discharged into Cox's Creek, which flowed for some distance in an open gully.

Mr. Creamer said it would be worth considering whether the City and Grey Lvnn Councils should not combine to treat the sewage septically, even as a temporary measure, as it would be some time before the main sewer reached Cox's Creek.

Mr. W. Murray suggested the Health Officer might also visit the various offensive trades carried on at Richmond, and might also inspect the dam at Cox's Creek, as well as the sawdust deposited into the intake.

Mr. Williams, who was present, explained that the mouth of the gully, where the city sewage reached the creek, was all worn away, and there was a big hole filled with sewage from which the smell was most offensive.

The motion was adopted.

THE LOT OF THE NURSES. "SCANT COMFORTS AND POOR ACCOMMODATION." The treatment of the patients suffering from typhoid was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board. Mr. P. M. MacKay stated that one nurse had died from typhoid and six were down with it. Perhaps the, nurses were left too long in the typhoid ward. It was a very gTeat strain on them. At Home the nurses were vaccinatd against typhoid.

Mr. E. Davis said it was no wonder the nurses were laid up, with the scanty comforts and poor accommodation they had to endure. It was enough to make the constitution of a horse break down.

Mr. G. Knight (chairman) said the committee had done all they could. The maximum number of typhoid cases in the institution had been about 70. With all the other cases added, it was inevitable that a strain should be placed upon the staff. The committee, had tried to ascertain the cause of the trouble, but had failed. The typhoid had been in a very malignant form this year, and therefore the risk to the nurses was greater than usual. The doctor had reported -that the epidemic was abating now, but cases were coming in from portions of the City which had previously been entirely free. Mr. L. J. Bagnall said that the enquiries prosecuted by the committee had revealed (1) that the hospital was overcrowded, the work of the nurses being therefore more arduous and more dangerous than in ordinary circumstances; (2) the nurses being run down through overwork their systems were not strong enough to resist the inroads of typhoid Terms; and (3) there was not sufficient laundry accommodation for the proper destruction of material which had been connected with typhoid. There were 220 patients in the institution yesterday. If there had been only 200 the place would have been overcrowded. Mr. MacKay moved that there should be a conference of the hospital committee and the honorary staff to discuss the matter. Mr. Davis moved an amendment that the honorary staff should report on the question, and that the matron should report on the accommodation. He was not satisfied with the doings of the committee in the matter, i Mr MacKay said that he had not intended any reflection upon the present Hospital Committee. He believed that the Bpard was doing its very best. It a very important matter, and was worth enquiring about. Business was then proceeded with, the chairman stating that the hospital committee would submit a report at the next meeting of tie Board.