MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 964, 14 March 1917, Page 8

MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK.

DYSENTERY AT TEMPLETON. It is fairly generally known that during the last few weeks quite an epidemic of dysentery has been prevalent in the Templelon district, affecting not only some residents of the place, but also the prisoners in the gaol. A Sun representative this morning interviewed Dr Chesson, the district health officer, on the subject. Dr Chesson stated that there had been quite an outbreak of the disease at Templeton, and that a considerable number of people were affected, including some prisoners. Two deaths had resulted, one of the victims being an inmate of the prison. He was not yet in a position to give exact details, but his officers were now engaged upon the work of trying to trace the disease to its source. He had examined the water at the prison, as it had been stated that the outbreak had originated there, but had found nothing wrong with it. He was not yet properly satisfied, however, that all was quite right in that respect. Dr Chesson said that there appeared to be a disposition on the part of some of the public to accuse returned soldiers of having introduced I* the disease, but he would remind those people that* there had been dysenteric outbreaks in the country long before I lie war, and they should not lightly attach Ihe blame to returned soldiers. Action had been taken to impress upon people the necessary precautions to be taken, which are those applicable to typhoid.