TYPHOID FEVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15610, 15 May 1914, Page 8

TYPHOID FEVER.

WARNING BY DR. MAKQILL

DANGER IN THE WATER.

BATHING AND OYSTERS.

A WARXINC was issued yesterday by Dr. R. H. Makgill, when discussing typhoid fever statistics. "January, February, March, and April are," he said, " tho typhoid months. In a dry year it invariably happens that typhoid is much more prevalent than in a wet year. When a period of drought is broken tho effect, though not noticeable immediately, is quite pronounced about a month or six weeks later. This year the cases of^ typhoid in the city and sulurbs, and also in the provine© are not above the average. The returns for the province for tho last four years are as follows'.—January (1911) 43, (1912) 29. (1913) 42, 1914 (56). February 74, 32, 61, 60. March 55, 27, 78, 48. April 34, 32. 40, 51. The average number of cases in the city and suburbs for the month of April is from 12 to 13. In 1911 the number was 8, but in 1912 it was 27. In 1913 the figure was 9 and this year 12. Only four cases have occurred in the city. arid suburbs so far this month, and the probabilities are that, with the recent rain a?,d the cooler weather it will : not he a lad month.

"But the rate- in Mangere and Oneliunga has been very high," he continued, "and I know that some of the cases at least are traceable to lathing in, and eating shellfish from, the Mangere reaches of the Manukau. The oyster-beds in this locality . re, of course, closed, and no anxiety net- i be felt by people procuring oysters from the Marino Department, for the supply comes from clean beds. While ne<V'?> art- very diffident about admitting hi,-'.; procured oysters illegally, there seem* to be little doubt in some cases that illicit oyster-picking might have caused the spread of the disease.

"The source of the pollution of these oyster-beds," he continued, " is the gradually increasing amount of sewage that is poured into the Mangere reach, from Westfield down to Onehunga. As the population increases and trades are estallished, this pollution must naturally increase, and at no distant date it will be necessary to inaugurate a sewerage system for this part of the district. But it will bo an extremely expensive piece of work* In the meantime the public will bo wise to avoid bathing at tho spot mentioned and taking shellfish from the locality."