THE TYPHOID OUTBREAK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13702, 19 March 1908, Page 6

THE TYPHOID OUTBREAK.

EPIDEMIC DECREASING

SANITATION AND DRAINAGE.

Since December last, when the presentoutbreak of typhoid or enteric fever occurred, there have been no fewer than 137 cases reported in the. city and suburbs, and owing to the severe type of the. disease the percentage of deaths has been unusually heavy, there having been 13 fatal eases. The death-rate from typhoid during the South African war, for instance, was lower limn it has been during the present outbreak in Auckland. Happily, however. since the recent heavy rainfall the number of cases reported is decreasing almost daily. "This shows," said Dr. J. S. Purely, the district health officer, to a Herald interviewer yesterday, "thatthere is some relation between the incidence of the disease and the height of the subsoil •water, as it, is largely in those areas of the city with a clay subsoil that we have had I lie most severe, outbreaks. This is another reason f or the establishment of up-to-date drainage. In towns where efficient drainage has been introduced, not only has enteric been entirely abolished, but the incidence of tubercular disease has been considerably lessened—and especially after deeper drainage." Asked as to the manner in which the outbreak had been coped with, Dr. I'urdy paid a tribute of praise to the efforts of the honorary and medical start's at the hospital, who had met the unusual demands upon their time in a good lighting spirit, though the accommodation at the hospital had been severely overtaxed.

The health officer ascribed the epidemic to a certain extent to the insanitary conditions arising from the primitive sanitary services and the use of the old wooden boxes, that have been abolished by nearly all modern governing bodies. He was pleased to be able to say, however, that there was a reasonable prospect of these insanitary conditions being removed" for all time with the introduction of an up-to-date sewerage scheme.

"We can eliminate water and milk as causes of the outbreak," continued Dr. Purdy, "as districts belonging to the city, other than Newmarket and Eden Terrace (two of the worst afflicted areas), received practically the same water, and much the same milk supply."

On the subject of drainage, the health officer had also something to say. "Recently," he said, "' while investigating some drains which were taken up in one of the suburbs, it was found that these were not only laid with clay joins, but the sockets were put on the wrong —practically upside down. From one standpoint it is fortunate that our sewerage scheme was not adopted some years ago. No drainage is' preferable to bad drainage, and it is necessary that our plumbers should be equipped with the most recent knowledge on the subject when we arc going in for a scheme that is to last for all time. In my opinion," pursued Dr. Purdy, " the public of Auckland have more to thank Mr. George George, director of the Technical School, for introducing technical education to the plumbers than, they realise. Auckland' can claim on its examination results alone, thanks to the excellent teaching of Mr. Haynes, the City Council's inspector, a position second only to that of the London Polytechnic. Of recent years also, in this city, there has been an improvement in house construction," said Dr. Purely, calling upon a leading city architect, who was present, to substantiate his statement, "and generally the public are beginning to realise the benefits of more hygienic environments."

A small outbreak of typhoid has been reported from Tauranga, where there arc four cases. Inspector Franklin, of the Thames, has left to investigate- the matter.