MALARIOUS FEVER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4119, 3 June 1874, Page 3

MALARIOUS FEVER.

[■from the Meijjoukxu Telegraph.] Unhappily, the existence of a fever epidemic in Melbourne is incontrovertible. The vital statistics published hy Dr. 0 milestone in the May number of the “Medical and Surgical lleview," and brought up to date, show that deaths from “zymotic diseases” have risen tins year from 20 per cent, of the whole in 18715 to 33 per cent, for the first five mouths of 187'!. In the same paper, Mr. .1. E. Twocddale, who has had much experience as surgeon in the Itoyal Jfavy, gives it as his opinion that the fever which has been so severe and fatal in the metropolis of late is identical with the yellow fever of tire West Indies, the low remitting fever of the Coast of Africa, and the intermitting fever of the Coast of China during the summer months. “ I believe,” ho says, “they all arise from the same poison, engendered by vegetable decomposition, under the influence of heat and moisture, modified by the intensity of the poison, the diverse surrounding condition of climate, as also hy the habits and mode of life of those who are exposed to it. It is certainly a bloodpoisoning in the first instance, and docs, under

favorable conditions for its development, become contagious from the emanations of the skin.” 44 I am inclined to think,” adds the doctor, in another passage, 44 that, with the advent of the autumn south-west wind and rain the fever will gradually disappear, only to return about January next, should the next season prove similar to the present one ; that is, a heavy rainfall, a succession of easterly winds, high barometer, and an absence of hot winds. In the olden times of the colony, and especially in Melbourne, when there was no Yan Yean laid on to all the back yards, the fierce hot winds were able to thoroughly dessicato all the refuse animal and vegetable matter, and dry up the surplus water from the house drainage of the city. Now wc have a larger amount of surplus water left to dispose of itself the best way it can, either by evaporation or soakage, back yards and lanes where the sun never shines in, and those valuable though much abused hob winds year by year diminishing in intensity and frequency. Why, then, should we be surprised at the increase of malarious fever.” These notes arc very valuable, but at the same time we expect to sec them controverted as to the prevailing fever being of a 44 malarious type.” In that case wo ought to have heard of its outbreaks in low and marshy situations', where vegetable decomposition mostly abounds. The contrary is the fact. South Yarra villas, and oven the crest of the Eastern Hill of the city, have supplied a heavy proportion of victims. Hence the residents on the low lands need not be disheartened, nor can the dwellers on the hills afford to be puffed up. Circumstances all point to the old conclusion that there is but one preventative against the fever, whether it he of the malarious or the typhoid type, and that is cleanliness —a clean person, a clean house, and a clean,back yard.