THE TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1922, Page 7

THE TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

EIGHT MORE NOTIFICATIONS. TOTAL CASES NOW 89. NO ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL PATIENTS. / "There is no change to report regarding the typhoid cases at the hospital today," said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the board. He stated that there were no admissions since Saturday, and the hospital authorities- had in readiness accommodation for twenty more patients if required, while further provision could be made if necessary. He was quite satisfied with the position, -and though there were one or two serious cases the patients were responding well to treatment, while the nursing staff was doing splendid work.

The District Health Officer, Dr. T. J. Hughes, stated this morning that since noon on Saturday eight additional cases had been notified in the Auckland district, bringing the total to 89. Two of these cases had occurred in the city and these had been traced to Mount Albert. One case had been notified from St. Helier's Bay. He thought that the situation was well in hand. Asked regarding the cases at the Mental Hospital he said that he thought that matters had considerably improved there.

The acting-Medical Superintendent at the Auckland Hospital stated that there were still 63 cases in the institution, and they were all progressing as well a s could be expected.

DEATHS AT MENTAL HOSPITAL. An inquest was held at the Mental Hospital, Avondale, on Saturday by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., touching the death of two male patients. After hearing the evidence the coroner found that death was due to typhoid with pneumonia supervening.

HON. C. J. PARR'S INQUIRIES. MATTER WELL IN HAND. MENTAL HOSPITAL METHODS. NO SECRECY INTENDED. The first question to engage the attention of the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr) when he arrived in Auckland yesterday morning was the outbreak of typhoid at Mount Albert. He says the matter is well in hand and he thinks that when the period of incubation—from two to three weeks —elapses from the time the local water was drunk, there will be no further outbreaks, and the epidemic will be wiped out. Mr. Parr fears, from the evidence supplied him, that the local water supply of Mount Albert is the cause of the trouble, but points out that the matter cannot be conclusively proved until further tests are made. At the Mental Hospital the Mount Albert supply has not been used for a fortnight.

Mr. Parr, when asked why the fact of there being an outbreak at the Mental Hospital waa not made public, said Dr. F. Hay, the Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, had explained that the authorities did not want to cause the relatives of patients unnecessary alarm. When a patient was ill those interested were notified at once. There was no secrecy about the matter, and the health authorities had been aware of the infection at "Avondale from the beginning. When no notice was received the relatives could take it that the patient was in his usual state of health.

Out of a total of 1100 patients in the Mental Hospital the Minister found that there had been 43 males and 14 females attacked by typhoid. There had not been any fresh cases during the past three or four days, and as a matter of fact the epidemic was practically at an end so far as the institution was concerned. Mr. Parr detailed the steps that had been taken at the institution to deal with the outbreak, and said all the patients were being most carefully nursed, there being an ample staff for the purpose. Dr. F. Hay (InspectorGeneral of Mental Hospitals) and the Superintendent at Avondale (Dr. R. M. Beattie) had looked after tbe work of dealing with the epidemic.

Speaking of Mount Albert's water supply Mr. Parr said that if it were proved beyond doubt that the local supply was infected it would be neces"sary to seriously consider the whole question of securing a supply that would be beyond suspicion. Dr. Gilmour, the bacteriologist at the Auckland Hospital, was making an exhaustive examination of the water. Mr. Parr suspects that the soaka_e from the hundreds of houses in the district had affected the springs from which Mount : Albert had drawn its local supply.

"This epidemic," said the Minister, "teaches a lesson which cannot be ignored by the local authorities. I propose on Thursday discussing- with five suburban Mayors the question of taking practical step? which will put the water issue beyond doubt."

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