THE PREVALENCE OF EPIDEMICS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXV, Issue 147, 25 June 1889, Page 3

THE PREVALENCE OF EPIDEMICS.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib,— Having noticed in several late issues of your paper articles relating to the prevalence of diphtheria in the district, a few. lines on the subject at the present time -will not perhaps be but of place in reference to sanitary precautions. Having been a Sub-Inspector on the Sanitary Commission in London during the cholera epidemic' in 1855, and also Inspector of Nuisances for a borough in the North Island, I believe I have had exceptional opportunities of studying the question. The mode of procedure in London was the following :— On any information being given as to a supposed case of cholera, one of us was sent to make an inspection of the premises and send in a report to headquarters, upon which' instructions were issued to adopt any measures thought necessary, as to the use of disinfectants, lime- washing; clearing drains, or any other steps that appeared advisable. Notice in writing, -varying in time from 24 hours to seven days, was served upon the owner or agent of the property to carry out the same under our inspection. Should they neglect to do so within the specified time, we.had instructions to employ any labor thought requisite —at the owner's cost. If such expenses were not immediately paid on demand, proceedings were at once instituted in the S.M. Court for the recovery of the same. I notice in the clause of the Public Health Act that cholera is classed as a contagious disease. I beg to differ from that opinion, as I have had to do with some hundreds of the worst cases, and never felt the slightest dread on that score; neither do I recollect in my experience a single instance, among hospital or other attendants, any case where the disease was communicated to any other person by a patient. Another circumstance that struck me as most singular during the epidemic was the complete immunity from the disease among the Jewish portion of the community. Upon mentioning the same to one of my superior officers, he remarked that the same idea hacl occurrea to him. The only explanation he could give was that they are in the habit of using large quantities of pickles and vinegar with their food. With reference to diphtheria, the earliest symptoms of the disease are almost identical with an attack of croup. On the first appearance of the complaint, the best remedy is to give the patient about a tea-spoonful (more or less, according to age) of antimonial wine, mixed with a little water. If the same does not cause the patient to vomit in 15' or 20 minutes, the dose should be repeated, care being taken not to , administer too much at one time. If the disease reaches a more adadvanced stage, give a mixture of sulphurous acid diluted with water, at intervals. Should an extreme stage be reached, the only resource I know of would be to insert some flour of sulphur in a quill, and blow the same down the throat of the patients. As I believe the disease is highly infectious, it is most important to completely isolate the patient from the rest of the family, at the same time burning a mixture of sulphur and coal tar in an iron bowl or dish in the room. As the disease and others similar, without the shadow of a doubt; arises from ill contracted drains and refuse matter, the cheapest and at the same time post effective disinfectant I am acquainted with, is carbolic acid mixed in the. proportion of one gallon of acid to 20 gallons of water, I do not think we shad ever be troubled with a visitation of cholera in New Zealand, owing to the peculiar configuration of, the islands, being in most parts in sucti close proximity to the sea coast ; but there are other diseases to which we may be liable where there is insufficient drainage or defective sanitary arrangements. About 2 years ago there was an epidemic {of "dengue fever" at Westport. I had an attack of it which laid me up for two or three weeks. The first symptoms of it are a sore throat with a distressing head-ache and great depression, generally. . I told the medical gentleman attending on me that I believed it was caused by a drain running alongside the house at which I was staying that ran into an open cess-pool. Upon his representing the same to the authorities it was cleaned out and covered, when the disease immediately abated in that locality. I had no idea till a short time back that there was such a person as inspector of nuisances, but upon enquiry I found there was one appointed at a salary of £20 per annum I suppose the appointment was made merely to comply with the terms of the Municipal Corporations Act, but for a place like Blenheim it is perfectly absurd. What is really required is to have an officer with a salary sufficient to look after his duties with a firm determination to carry them out without fear or favor to any one. no 'matter what their social standing in the place may be. As it is at present the Borough Council might as well pass a bye-law ordering every inhabitant to carry a lantern in the street* J