TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 9

TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

SLIGHT CHECK REPORTED.

SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY.

A slight clink in the typhoid fever epidemic in the Epsom and One-tree Hill districts was reported by the Health Department yesterday. No further definite eases were reported, but two or three new suspects were brought under observation.

'the district health officer, Dr. R. H. Makgill, drew attention yesterday to the urgent need for tlm closing of water supplies having their sources in populous areas. People who were compelled to use such supplies he likened to the residents of a village on the slopes of an active volcano, fur they could not foresee where or when the danger would come. The present outbreak, the Health Department considers, is sufficient warning to warrant the abandonment of all the supplies of water drawn from springs in populous districts. The Western Springs, Mount Albert springs, Manukau Water Supply Hoard spring, and the Onehunga Borough springs are all stated to be liable to pollution, and supplies further afield, it is ur.'ed, should be sought.

Hie .Manukau Water Supply Board. Dr. Makgill stated, is fully alive to the gravity of the situation, and the chemical purinVa tion of its supply was at once being taken in hand. Such precautions were satisfactory for the time being, but he felt that no time should he lost in making arrangements for a safer supply.

DISCLAIMER BY EPSOM BOARD.

CASKS NOT ALL IX THAT DISTRICT

A reference to the outbreak of typhoid "•as made nt a meeting of the Kpsom Road Board last night. The chairman, Mr. F. H. Wood, said that the Mannkan Water Supply Hoard, in conjunction with the Health' Department, was fully investigating the matter, and would spare no trouble nor expense in finding a remedy. He had undertaken, on behalf of the Epsom Road Board, to work with the other bodies concerned as far as possible. He bad observed in the newspapers the headline, "Typhoid in Epsom," and he therefore desired to point out that Epsom did not comprise within its boundaries the whole of the district affected. Their inspector bar! been diligent in connection villi the outbreak, and had been complimented by the medical officers on the intelligence with which he was carrying out the duties which were thrown upon him. The inspector h.-.d made a careful personal infection of the dwellinghouses concerned, and reported <o him on the subject daily. Out of dO cases of typhoid which had been credit to the Kpsom district, only 18 had occurred in residences within the area of the hoard's jurisdiction. T l>e others bad occurred at One-tree Mill, or, at least, outside the Epsom district.