OPEN COLUMN

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4306, 15 March 1901, Page 3

OPEN COLUMN

CRUSADE AGAINST DIET. Rev H. M. B. Marshall, Pahiatua, writes:—There is an article in the January number of the "Nineteenth Century" by Henry Jephson, by drawing attention to which, by reprinting it in whole or in part, you will in my opinion, be doing a great service to the community. The crusade against dirt is one in which thousands will join more eagerly if their efforts are organised in some such way as the author suggests. There is'a consensus of opinion that the accumulation of refuse is in one shape or another the main stumbling block to the progress of the race—to the fulfilment, for instance, of the prophecy of Stephen Philips in the same number of the review above ..mentioned in his ode on "‘Midnight—3lst December, 1900.” At the same time, unfortunately, there arc still too many “who are content with a low standard of cleanliness, of persons who go through their lives doing as little in the way of cleaning ns they can, who drift or scramble along from one year’s end to the other in a more or less dirty sort of way.’’ PREVENTION OF ENTERIC. In the “British Medical Journal” of January 26, 1901. writes Dr Monckton (Feildiiur) there is very valuable information on the prevention of water-borne typhoid in armies in the field. To put it in a. nutshell: Drs Parker and Ridsal have exhaustively experimented to ascertain some harmless chemical means for, destroying the microbes in drinking water that cause typhoid or enteric fever. Tire result has been to? prove that acid bisnlphate of soda in 15 grains to the pint of water, if allowed to dissolve for a quarter of an hour, effectually destroyed the bacilli, and their malignant effects. It is pleasant andslightly acid, ami,although it may he said to be slightly aperient, yet the “slightly’’ means that seven pints of water would have to be imbibed before any aperient effects could be exhibited. Need I suggest that the Government look into the matter, ns

a quarter of a pound in a tin box. contain in" about 350 tabloids would sterilise more than 100 pints of water, and relieve our boys of the most dreaded dancer. The question appears to me to be so all important that valuable time and lives may be lost if action is not talceh without delav, 1 frost, sir, that you will give prominence to the subieot and support my contention by the valuabltrnTd of your paper.