VERMIN AND DISEASE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 154, 24 March 1908, Page 8

VERMIN AND DISEASE.

RATS AND -COCKROACHES AUCKLAND'S NEED OF DRAINAGE. ■ [by : telegraph.—special correspondent.] Auckland, March' 23. The District Health Officer (Dr. J. S. Purdy) expressed the opinion to an interviewer that Auckland occupied' a most' favourable position in the vital -statistics-pub-lished in tho "Gazette," her. record being only .15 behind. that of Wellington in the death-rate per 1000 of the population. " . " Taking into consideration the fact that Wellington has the benefits of a sewerage systom," said Dr. Purdy, " and a -progressive. Council, which has adopted many reforms, I think it rather shows that my contention' that tho climato-of Auckland is by no means unhealthy is correct. Thero is no reason why the death-rate of Auckland should' not decrease to that of Devonport, and to obtain that condition of affairs one .of the first requisites is a steam disinfector. Until we havo! that, wo cannot deal with tho incidence of. infectious disease by, the most, modern and scientific methods.!' I -. Dr. Purdy also remarked that the efficacy, of the Tauranga cockroach euro has now'been ■proved beyond all doubt. Ships.that a few months ago wero infested with' this' objectionable post, have been absolutely cleared, of it, since the powder has been used. Mr. Pruden, who discovered the material, lias succeeded in exterminating the beetle where, his remedy was ap'pliod, even after tho failure of, tho Health Department and others. ; The Health Officer went on to refer to experiments lie had been carrying out for the destruction of rats with an exterminator which had been imported from Toroii- " to. These,' he said, had proved most successful, arid it was intended to "place the material on. tho market shortly. Experiments have also been carried out on Rangitoto Wharf, with the object of reducing the fly nuisance by syringing with kerosene, and very offective. results have been obtained, and tho matter is being further, ' invests gated. . - > Speaking of tho heavy mortality from cancer, I)r. Purdy said he had no, doubt that if statistics were collected all over New Zealand, it would be found that- there was some connection between tho incidenco of the disease and residence. It had been'found with lefjard to cancer, and the same remark ap. plied to rheumatism, that certain soils were more favourable than others for the propagation of. these diseases.