THE WATER SUPPLY.
QUESTION OF PURITY. TYPHOID AT EDEN TERRACE. At the last meeting of the Eden Terrace Road Board some strictures were passed on the purity of the city water supply in a. letter from Mr. George Patterson, and in the subsequent remarks by the chairman of the Board (Mr. W. Garrett) on the letter. The Board questioned the purity of the water supply, and asked that, in view of the outbreak of typhoid fever, the supply should be analysed, and the result made public. The district health officer was requested to have the analysis made. When Dr. Purdy was subsequently seen by a HERALD representative on the matter he expressed the opinion that Eden Terrace was, from a sanitary point of view, "a blot, on the map of Auckland,'' and also questioned the advisability of continuing the system of small boroughs governed by small municipal bodies such as road boards. The matter came up before the Eden Terrace Road Board at its meeting last night, in the shape of Dr. .Purdy 's reply to the Board's request for an analysis of the water. Dr. Purdy was also present personally. In his letter he stated that the city wafer supply had been examined by the Government bacteriologist, the Colonial analyst, and himself, and that as far as he was aware Auckland was the only city in the Dominion which had a monthly-examination made. After quoting from the report of Dr. Makgill, dated January 27, 1908, from a series of examinations made, the district health officer went on to state: —" In investigating the outbreak of typhoid fever in this district naturally our hist care was carefully to examine the water supply. This having' failed to exhibit any signs worthy of further investigation we then went, into the question- of milk supply. As in the case of the water, we found there was no relation between the supply of milk and the incidence of typhoid fever. It, is a remarkable fact, however* that typhoid fever should have occurred in those areas where oiir Department had considered it necessary in ho interest of public health to make a house-to-house inspection. The incidence oi typhoid fever for the district controlled by the Eden Terrace Road Board has been 7.6 per 1000 of the population, contrasted with 2.1 per 1000 lor the City of Auckland, and nil for Devonport, during the year ending March 31, 1908. In the letter before your Board if is stated that 'several cases of typhoid fever have occurred in parts of the Eden Terrace district, where drainage is complete, and there appears to be no visible cause for the disease having occurred where drainage is complete.' As a. matter of fact, thera is no complete drainage in the modern sense of the term in your district; the water carriage system has not been introduced. It is interesting to note also that the consumption of water per head in your area is the lowest in this district, namely, 11 gallons per day, as contrasted with 61 gallons for Devonport, Auckland 56, Onehunga 2.5, Mount Eden 15. Grey Lynn 15. That for the City of London is 30. We cannot, however, say that this has materially affected tho incidence of typhoid fever, as the people of Archhill consume the same quantity its yourselves, and they are. practically immune; from typhoid, though they also discharge their household drainage into the gully. Until the introduction of it comprehensive drainage scheme, I feel certain that your authority will give every attention to the details ox scavenging, sewage, and refuse, removal, as'subjects of such, vital importance require." The Chairman said ho was sine the thanks of both the Board and residents of the district were due to Dr. Purdy for the trouble he had taken. He felt that the result of the analysis should have been, .known long ago. In the courso of an informal conference that took place between 'Dr. Purdy and members of the Board, Dr. I'mdy said he anticipated that some remarks would be made relative to his reference, to Eden Terrace as '" a blot- on the map of Auckland," from a sanitary point of view. He. said it was wholly the misfortune of the Board, and not its fault, that they should have had an epidemic of typhoid fever in the district, because the. Board had done what, they could to avoid it. At the same time, he honestly believed they would he liable to a similar outbreak until a complete system of drainage was instituted. In order that this might be speedily brought about. Dr. Purdy made a strong appeal for amalgamation, and pointed out what he considered to be the absurdity of each little road board being a law unto itself. The Chairman stated that the Eden Terrace Road Boar! was in favour of combining with the city in their drainage scheme.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13766, 3 June 1908, Page 8
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813THE WATER SUPPLY. New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13766, 3 June 1908, Page 8
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