TYPHOID FEVER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 7776, 7 May 1886, Page 2

TYPHOID FEVER.

At the City Council mooting last night the following report upon the prevalence of typhoid fever was presented ty Mr A. G. Johnson, Inspector of Nuisances Walling* ton City Council Office, May 6tb, 1886. Gentlemen —I feel that, so much having born eaH and written in this city daring the past few days about typhoid fever, some information on the matter may be acceptable from me. I yesterday afternoon vidtedtbe Hospital and saw Dr Hoasall as to the number of patients in that institution suffering from the fever. From Mm and the steward I got the names and nddrejaea of these patient*, and found that there were 19 oases then in hospital, alt of which (with two or three exception*), were convalescent, and, ia fact, were waiting for a change in the weather for the most of them to be discharged from the Institution. This city has been credited with all the oases, but it will perhaps surprise the Council when I inform them that during the past month (April) case* were in the institution from Kaiwrara, Otaki, and even as far as Reefton. These would reduce our number, and have gone towaris allaying tbs scare, if It bad been publicly stated in ihi reports. It will be seen from the above that all the facts have not been made known so far as the Hospital patients are concerned, but the city has had to bear the burden of other cases than its own, to its very great detriment, from the outside people. Then, with regard to Mr Frasec*s statement about the number of cases. Mr Fraser did not state that complaints of a leakage in the drain carrying the nightsoil from h!s six cottages in Francie-place, off Tory-etreet, had been frequently made by the persona living in close proximity to his cottages, and that it was only when the nuisance became so great that the human excreta boiled np through his defective drain and flooded the yards of those below *0 Barker-street, that he was got to remedy the drain. How long It was soaking into the ground before it made its appearance on the surface it Is impossible to say, but snob was the state some few months since when I got him to repair it. There is one case of typhoid tu bis cottages now—\ person named Fergus* son. Dr Kemp ia not surprised at the fev< r la this particular locality now ho knows this. The next house has three cases of fever, all going on well, Mr O, Youny being the owner. In this case I found that the house drain was led in to the scullery, and was entrapped, besides being in a broken condition all through bis garden to Birker-stree*. This wai ascertained by pulling Che cover off the drain. I wrote to Mr Young on the matter, and a new drain is now being constructed. Dr Kemp, who la attending, tells me to day that he Is quite of opinion that the fever in this house was caused by the drain aforesaid ventilating the sewer gas into the bouse. This has now b eu remedied, but being inside was out of the ordinary way of inspection. Hr, Yonog. states that the fevar arose from dirty p-emlsea near him, and that Or Kemp told him so. The doctor emphatically denies this, and gives the above as the cau*c. Other three cases in the Hospital came from a boarding-houee close to where the morgue was situated, In Dixon-street, It will be in the recollection of the Council how often I b*ve urged the removal of that building, and the dealing with the sewer gas that arises into the street from a grating there. Other eases again came from near the sea end of the drain leading through by the gas work, down Tory-etreet. This has also frequently been rep>rted oo br myself, but ao' closed in yet, Cases again came from Dlxon-etreet which has been a notoriously badly drained district, reported on by myself. Just lately a drain bos been pot there, but the yardi were sodden with sewerage of many years standing, I put in reports on this street fitme few times. Then, again, cases came from other boarding-houses, and as there are ao lodging-house regulations, and any number of persons oau be huddled together, it is easily seen how typhoid could and has arisen from those places. No inspector of nuisances has any right - to go In and examine the inside of these places so far as I know. Then, again, the whole bed of the Kenfcter/aoe and College-L>rae-«treet valley has an almost unfathomable swamp, aad it is the opinion of medical men in this city tb*t t-nch laud having been built upon is conducive in a great degree to tbq, germination of certain sorts of fever. .Other causes of which I have frequently complained to the Council uo doubt have done their part, and do every year their pa t, to create fever in this way. The number of open filthy streams carrying the few age of the city (upon which subject I have flooded the Council with reports for years past), and to the fact that the nighrsoU and rubbish contract has not, in ray opinion, been carded oat iu anything Uky a satisfactory manner. On mors* thin one I have f*»r the cancellati *n «f that contract, e<=-e;n» pMidy that tronb’e w-mM arise at no very d tojcdateif the *ys eta continued, as as the rates imposed by the contractors, and

the difficulty te gattW iW*’?«! v u occupiers to dfsposo 01' thfcir filthy tubblah ood uigbtsoil !a any way, father tnaa pay these rates op bo caught with the Inspector ot Nuuaooom Added to tnia, th« contractor* ate the chief offeodofs in depoclthg tho. rubbish at a <1 myeflia-at e?ot Other than the depot. I woiiW that ibe ddancU/*hoiiM taW this l J vef * had alter the systeni entirely. No g o -)*! cm be done till ths tcrdpUMnu to ityowf h6ll and refuels rethovej froai wao have to pay directly for lU teni'-ifa V th*‘ Council doesthe Work, and pay* for it not of a rate, the temptation will ceased XtS. rtfcbfiT cities of the Oolony this prltyJlplO Wan adopted tew .years ag > (five °* slk) v a report Was .laid before .the (Jeuocil showing the co§t of Bqch a ayaten* with proper appliances. Tho. Ooqacil.dlffnot adopt that report,,aod .fcbo. present system was slill OQ ® op.with. .Other (towns in the colonies ats hU more ,or less, affected with .typhoid fovcT. During .last month weuhad one. more - doatiU than Auckland, the numbers being-—Welling* ton, 5 j Auckland, 4. From tho Australasian of.loth April-I take tho following, a* showing What kind of-vialtation they had in Melbourne daring that month *At the meeting ot tbc ; Central Board of Health yesterday attention was again drawn to the alarming prevalence of typhoid fever. The President, in his report, stated that the' number of cases reported up to date daring the summer was 699, and of those 153 bad terminated fatally. The figures speak for themseWee, Another Instance.* On the 27th April the NbW 2baland Times published under heading Sydney, April22nd I 'During last month 2$ deaths have occurred in the Newcastle district from typhoid fever.’ We had five deaths in April, The Council will .ho doubt have read the medical opinions in the papers, and from those and the Information given by myself, the urgency of a thorough drainage scheme, and the total alteration of the system of gathering «ad disposing of the' nightsoil and rubbish of the city, will do doubt be patent* for it fa impossible to keep the city os it ought to be under tho present system. In conclusion, Z beg to draw t(£» attention of the Council to tho lotog hot was experienced; during the past summer and of autumn, and to note that so fa? os (he returns—from Auckland for instance go-t-our death rate bos not been of the character to create the alarm that has existed for the past fowdays. In fact* judging from the reports of £h« .medical men, the danger has almost men, your obedient servant, A led. G. John80S, Inspector el Nuisances.” Tho Mayor said medical men with whom he bad conversed with on the subject all agreed that the fever, in moat was traced to neglect on the part of householders. He moved that tho report be referred to the Public Works Committee.

Councillor Richardson suggested that an improvement might he made in tho method of inspection. of drains by & Corporation official. . ,

Councillor Banks suggested that as tho matter would bo considered by the Public Works Committee it would not now be wise to discuss it. Councillor Fetberick said he had been snrprised to learn recently that visitors to the Hospital were allowed to go into the typhoid (ever ward. He mentioned a case in which two such visitors bad been stricken with the fever themselves. Ho knew of a case in which several people, had been . allowed to visit patients. The Hospital authorities were helping to epread the disease, and should exorcise mute oatefnl supervision. The Mayor said no doubt tho Hospital Trustees present would take the matter to heart.

The motion was carried, and the report referred to the Public Works Committee,