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DYSENTERY IN GERMANY

THE RECENT EPIDEMIC. For some time past reports, more or less vaguo, have appeared in the Anglian Press as to the presence of a great epidemic of dysentery in GermanyStatements have been made as to hundreds of cases and numerous deaths occurring in this or that area. The purposo of this article is to set forth tho facts, in so far as thev can be denudely ascertained. In Prussia dysentery is a notifiable disease, and in normal times the deaths attributed to it are fewer than in England. Thus, in 1911, there were 220 deaths from dysentery in Prussia, as against 300 in England and Wales; in 1910 Prussia had 102. England and "Wales 243. For the fa a years immediately preceding the latter date the annual average was 174 in Prussia, as compared with 283 in England. , .. The course of the present epidemic in Prussia is shown by the following weekly record of cases and deaths reported in the German official publications :— _ ~ Weekended Cases. D>jtis. 9 June, 1917 1H 24 i<s 1.31 1-o 23 : ' ' 101 23 30 •' 265 20 „"*•*'-i5 « 21 ", ! , 1,273 102 Øog " 1.7P2 160 S 18 " " 4,847 466 K " 5,121 59S \**« m 7 iS %* Vi " " '." .. 4,622 720 22 '' '„, 3,802 550 In tho'four'weelis of Juno there were fill cases and 82 deaths, in July 4n22 cases and 368 deaths; in August ive weeks) 21,367 cases and 2269 deaths; in tho three September weeks 14,493 cases and 2032 deaths. Thus the weekly averages were: Cases. Deaths. Juno 153 21 July ■ U3l 92 August 4273 4u4 September 4831 671 Since tho week ended August 4 the toll taken each week has been in excess of the average number of deaths occurring normally in a year, while the total deaths reported between the beginning of Juno and September 22 has reached tho extraordinary figure of 4751. And, although there is n merited drop in the numbers reported in the last two weeks under review, they still show that the epidemic is far from its

end. . . A striking feature of the epidemic is its universality. From AVestphalia to Silesia and East Prussia tho disease is raging. In the district of Arnsberg (AVestphalia) there were 1737 cases and 202 deaths in the last five weeks for which tho records aro accessible, m Allenstein (East Prussia) 1650 cases and 186 deaths, in Oppeln (Silesia) 4371 cases and 624 deaths. Dusseldorf had 3179 cases and 422 deaths, Cologne 1504 cases and 165 deaths, Berlin 619 cases and 170 deaths, Potsdam 479 cases and 58 deaths. .

As to its prevalence in other parts of Germany outside Prussia there is a certain amount of evidence, and it is reported to have been particularly prevalent in Mannheim in July, when, according to a local German newspaper, there were 600 cases of the disease.

As to the causes of the epidemic one .can only speak with great reserve, for the material on which any sound conclusions could bo based is lacking. It is, however, quite safe to assume that the long course of diet that has been either inadequate or unwholesome or both has played no small part in the history of this epidemic. This inadequate and unwholesome course of nutrition has told with special severity on the young, the old. and the weakly, and has undoubtedly impaired the power of resistance and enfeebled the vitality of the civilian population of Germany.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180116.2.22

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 5

Word Count
566

DYSENTERY IN GERMANY Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 5

DYSENTERY IN GERMANY Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 5

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