THE OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7885, 2 March 1887, Page 5

THE OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID.

Titers were two oases of typhoid reported yesterday to the Sanitary Inspeotor, one of them being in Park Avenue, alongside of which thoroughfare the new Fever ' Hospital is to be built. Dr. Stookwell, in reply to a request from the city authorities to examine the position of the Fever Hospital, reports : "I think there is no reasonable objection could be made regarding the position of the proposed new building." Dr. Hooper has at present three cases of scarlatina under his oare, between Cook-street and Grey street. Some medioal men are urging stricter inspection of the suburban dairies. There is stated to be one cowshed in Gaol Road, from which a horrible stench proceeds ; and a case of typhoid is reported from the same locality. The Sanitary Inspeotor considers that he has no power to inspect dairies beyond the city boundaries, but the Act appears to give ample power to visit such places when the milk is brought into the city. Dr. Purchas states that there is a good deal of typhoid about, and that it has come iu earlier this season than usual. He is thoroughly opposed to building a fever hospital, and is in favour of isolating the patients in touts, and would only send a typhoid patient to euoh an hospital if he could not help it. The doctor considers that the water supply is one of the most important questions at the present time. His belief is that instead of getting the water pure from the spring heads, that the glazed earthenware pipes are leaking at the joints, and that the citizens are really getting the water from the gathering ponds, instead of from the springs. He suggests that the usual water mains, properly jointed, should be put down to the spring heads. Dr. Purchas suggests that at present the water should be boiled before being used for drinking purposes ; that it should not be allowed to stand, but used while fresh, and a few drops of Coudy's fluid put into it. He considers that not a day should be lost in remedying the state of things described by Mr. D. H. Lusk as existing iu the vicinity of the Western Springs.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. GIRDLER. Dr. Girdler, who, as is well known, has given a considerable amount of attention to sanitary matters in connection with this city, states : — I attribute the spread of typhoid fever lately to the gross neglect of the sanitary authorities. I know of one esse in which in one day twelve typhoid stools were thrown into the garden. The Inspector should bo instructed, as soon as he gets notice of any case, to send round withdisinfectanti, and instruct those attending on the sick person how to use them. Then I think the milk places ought to be carefully looked alter. There is one milk place I have been told about, wherethe stench is so bad that they can scarcely milk the cows on account of it. The dairies ought to be inspected ; the authorities have now. got full power. Bat they have lately reduced the staff, and one inspector cau hardly do all the work. Besides, the Inspector can scarcely get a conviction, as the magistrates do not seem inclined to deal with such cases. They do not uphold the Inspector when he goes into Court. 1 think that milk is very apt to spread typhoid fever. It is 4 great absorbent, as can easily be ascertained by exposing some coffee and some milk together to a bad odour, when it will be found that the milk quickly absorbs, and goes bad. Milk takes up anything. In one of the last numbers of the Laucct there is a case which goes to show that if cows drink impure water it will poison their milk. This shows that it is necessary to carry the inspection the length of examining the water supply, lam sure that to strengthen the inspecting staff would be the most economical way of dealing with the matter, for every typhoid patient that goes into the hospital costs £60 or £80. Tnen there is the cost of the building, a separate staff of nurses, etc. As for the water supply, I do not think that its condition has anything to do with the present epidemic. But undoubtedly it is not in a satisfactory state. If you pass the Western Springs at the present time, you will get your buggy full of Hies. Thest come from the pluce where they are throwing the nightsoil, and from the slaughterhouse. There is also a boilingdown place at Morningside, the drainage from which, I think, must penetrate to the springs. You say that the latest aualysis shows that the water is perfectly puro. But water may contain the germs of typhoid, and yet no analysis or microscopic test will bo sufficient to show it. A case occurred at Croydon, in England, some time since. A man suffering from typhoid went down a well, and being suddenly taken ill, put his excrement in a bucket, and part of the contents were capsized in the well. In a short time there were 600 cases in the neighbourhood, and they had to .keep pumping out of that well for many days before they could allow it to be used again. That water would not have shown any impurity on any chemical analysis. I tell you this to show that water ought to be above suspicion. But, as I said before, Ido not think that the water has anything to do with the present epidemic. The season has, if course, had an effect. We had a long period of [dry weather, during which, of course, the germs of typhoid could not propagate, and now comes moiet, close Weather, the most favourable for their spread. There is no danger of typhoid spreading if the stools are disinfected. The medical staff reported, in favour of using earth closet* at the new hospital, understanding that it would be a merely temporary building. But if it is to be a permanent building it would be better that it Bhould be connected with the drains. There are now 25 patients in the Hospital. 1 have reported two cases this morning, and live or six were reported yesterday. 1 am afraid that next year the epidemic will be worse. We may almost reckon on it doubling year by year, as the germs remain active unless disinfected. The disinfectants are carbolic acid, copperas, and Cundy's fluid. The germs may be inhaled by breathing simply, but the most usual method of conveyance is by water.