STILL A MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 282, 26 November 1914, Page 4

STILL A MYSTERY.

THE ENGLISH CHOLERA OUTBREAK. NOT A DANGEROUS EPIDESIIC. Notwithstanding the investigations made by the Public Health Department into the origin of the epidemic of the disease known as English cholera, no clue has yet been found ac to the definite cause of the outbreak. Analyses are being made of the water and other articles of food and drink, i but, so far, nothing definitely suspicious has been discovered. The outbreak is apparently completely shrouded in myster}'. Although the milk or the water supply have been suggested ac possible causes, it ii> staled that as yet there ie nothing to support these theories. It is true that the analyses of the water are not yet completed, but it is pointed out that there are two separate water supplies for Onehunga— to which district the epidemic is mainly confined —and consumer* of water from both suprplics arc amongst the sufferers, while the Costloy Homo ie entirely exempt. Moreover, the disease seems to be confined to adults. If the neater supply were the origin of tho disease it might reasonably bo expected that children would also he victims. Thus, while this may ho, the root of the trouble, thcro is yet no evidence to substantiate the theory.

On the other hand, the disease is not an lirfectioue one, carried in the air or by contact in the same way as influenza or measles, and the health authorities take the view that it must ariee from some article of food or drink of a very common character. Nearly all of the cases have occurred in the Onehiuiga district, but others are reported from Epsom, Ellerslie. and one 'from "Mount Eden. In the last-mentioned case, however, the victim resided at Onehunga. Inquiry at the Public 'Health Office this morning elicited the information that tltere is no indication of a serious spread oi the disease, and the official estimate of the nunrber of cases that can be definitely diagnosed us English cholera is some two or three hundreds. In addition there arc other cases of summer diarrhoea and dysentery, which are always more or less prevalent at this time of the year. The view in taken by Dr. Makgill, the Public Health Officer, that there is no need for alarm. It should be understood that there is no

connection between the disease and Eastern cholera, mad English cholera in the form in which it fate appeared iv Auckland is merely a severe form of summer diarrhoea. Inquiries in medical .quarters this rooming as to whether any precautions can be taken to prevent the disease or to relieve it when the symptoms appear, elicited the opinion that it would he unwise to give any general prescription in the absence of evidence a* to the origin of the epidemic. Castor oil or other puTeatives are usually prescribed, tout this might not be applicable to every case.