THE TYPHOID FEVER SCARE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 27, 31 July 1889, Page 2

THE TYPHOID FEVER SCARE.

«. THE MEDIC A.L PROPKSSION INTERVIKWED. With a view to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the rumours which during thu past few days have been bo freely airoulated in the city as to tho preralency of typhoid fever, a reporter from this office waited upon a number of the medical praotitionera of Wellington to-day in order to obtain an independent idea of the number of patients snfforing from this opidemio who are upon their "oaße bookB." Tho members of the profession who wore soon are unanimous in tho consensus of opinion that there is not the slightest cause for alarm. That two deaths, at any rate, from the soourge have taken plaoo in the case of well-known citizens is admitted, but tho profession is almost unanimous in tho assertion tbat tho city at present is singularly free from tho Tisitation of the fever. Dr. Franco was the first genUorr.au waited upon, and his report was that ho has only had ono ojiße of tjphoid this season, tho pationt being a resident of Garrett-strcet named Uyleß, a master printer, who is now convalescent. This caso, 80 far as Dr. Franco hus heard, is the only ono which has oocurred in tho Te Aro end of the city. Dr. Collins expressed satisfaction at receiving tho visit of the reporter, as ho oonsidored that it was but right the prots should endeavour to aEcortain whether tho report of the foyer's provalenoy wo* corroct or not, and bo far as his professional knowledge went, ho was glad to say the rumour of the existence of the epidemic was foundationloss. Spoaking for himself, ho Baid his only typhoid patient was Captain Savilo, A.D.C. to his Uxoollenoy. Ho had one other orro whioh evinoed symptoms of the fever, but ns this was not fully developed ho preferrod not indicating the locality in whioh it was. Dr. Oillon Baid that ho had at preset t sent two caseslto tho B osDital in addition to ono private oaße in Te Aro. Tho dootor 10lnarkcd that he regretted the Chairman of tho Hospital had thought fit at yesterday's meeting of the Trustees to state on bis (Dr. Gillon's) authority there woro 40 oases of typhoid fever in tho city. What ho had told Mr Fraser was, that ho had beard thero was thisnumbor of typhoid pationtsintotvn, and that, if this were so, he considered tho city authontioß ehonld do something in tho matter. Dr. Tripo Btatod that during tho last autumn and tho presout winter ho had had only one case of typhoid, and this had occurred at Wadestown. This patient ho had Bent to the Hospital where it was boing treated. Dr. Tripo infonnod the roportor that during hia professional oxporionco m Wellington, extending over a p?riod of 11 yoars, he had never known fowor typhoid cases in the city than there woro at present. Dr. Cole waß next visited. Tho dootor 6aid ho had a oase in hand which ovincod typhoid Bymptoms, but they were not Buffioiently developed to warrant him as yet to determine whether it was typhoid or not. Speaking generally as to tho health of tlio city, Dr. Cole said that the immunity of the city, bo far as he was aware, from diarrhcoa, dysentery, &o , was almost unprecodontud. Dr. Rawßon stated that during bis oight years' professional praotico in the city bo had never known it bo froo from typhoid as it was now. Speaking for himself, he had had only one typhoid patient during tho past two month*. His praotico lay ohiofly at Te Aro, his pationts being principally amongst tho working olaßseß whose household accommodation was necossarily somewhat limited, and therefore ho oould spoak with some doprco of authority. Tho conclusion he had arrwed at wns that tho'city waß singularly free from typhoid. Two yoars ago this autumn Dr. ]iaw«on said ho attended 12 oases, in Dixon-Rtreot alone, of this particular epidemic, but during tho whole of this year ho had had only five typhoid patients. Dr. Fell was out when our reporter oalled, but Dr. Collins gavo us tho aesuranco that up to yostorday hie late partner had informed him ho had not a single typhoid case on his visiting list. Dr. Kemp was also, unfortunatoly, on his rounds at the time of our visit, but tho roportor was assured by Mrs. Kemp that up to yestorday she was sure the doctor bad no typhoid patients in hand. Dr. Cahill said he had no oases of the kind in hand, although ho was at present undertaking not only his own practioo, but that of Dr. .Robertson also, the latter trontlouian being at present suffering from lumbago. Dr. Cahill, upon being informod tlwt Dr. Martin was on his rounds assured tho reporter only yesterday that gentleman had informed him I hat ho had not a single oase of typhoid on his book. Dr. Henry upon being waited upon stated that he was happy to say ho had no oa6o of typhoid upon his list, and added he firmly believed the reports of its prevalence in this city to be, to say the least of it, greatly exaggerated. Mr. P. Duncan, the Inspeotorof Nuisances for the City Corporation, during tbo past threo days haß paid a house to house visit in Moloswortb, Hill, and Wingfield-Btroets and also in Fraser's-lano, and ho states positively that in neithor of these thoroughfares could he ascertain that the fever oxisted or that it had visited the locality for somo ooußidorablo timo post. The Inspector found tho sanitary conditions of the ho as s and tho baok yards he visited to bo overything he could have dosirod. The Medical Superintendent of the Hospital informs ns this aftornoon that at present thero are sevon oases of typhoid fever in that institution, one having been admitted last evening. Somo of the cases nra pronounced to Ijo only slight attacks, whilst others aro regarded as of a more serious character. The city authorities this morning addressed communications to 12 medical men on the subject of the scare, with the requoat that thoy would each state the number of typhoid cases they were attending. Mr, Page, the Town Clerk, informs ub that 11 doctors have replied, the reßult being that only 4 patients are reported as boing attendod by them in the aggregate. We are requested to mention that tho city drains aro flushed out twice a week during tho dry weathor, and onoo a week in wet weather.