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Enteric Fevir. The Qotificstious of cases of enteric fever recorded throughout tne health district for the past live years have been— 1902-3 ... ... ... ■■• ■ • •• •• ••• 217 1903-4 231 1904-5 ... . . ... ••■ ■•• ■•■ •■■ ... 180 1905-6 ... ... ... ■•• ••■ •■• ••• ■•• m 1906-7 ... ... ... ... ... ••■ ■•■ ■•• 153 1 have again to express satisfaction with diminishing records now extending over three years. There has usually been some locality where during the departmental year an outbreak of enteric occurs to swell the list. This year there was such an outbreak in Bay of Islands County (twentysix cases), again in Whakatane County (ten cases), and to a lesser degree at Hamilton. Otherwise the record is a very satisfactory one, aud the result, as exhibited in the accompanying charts, ia a very regular curve, showing a larger case-record December to June, with a maximum in April, and low figures July to November, with a minimum in September. The atmospheric conditions to note in this regard present a somewhat difficult problem. Reference to the meteorological tables appearing earlier in this report shows that, unlike the previous year, when the continuous record of low rainfall and low temperature was held to account for fewer cases of enteric, this year exhibits rainfall a little above the average, and mean temperature but slightly below the average. But if the tables referred to be studied, it is observed that low temperatures prevailed during the first three months of the departmental year, that in no part of the year did high temperature and drought occur, and that though the average rainfall was exceeded this took the form frequently of heavy rain over brief periods, which had the effect of washing away accumulations of germ-laden matter." The higher temperature and heavy rains of January and February, 1907, might be expected to result in a heavier enteric case-rate, and this, as the record for March shows, has been so. Still, results seem to indicate that the work of the Department, supplemented by that of the local authorities, and exhibited in awakened public interest in sanitation, is bearing fruit. The accompanying Chart A exhibits in graphic form the curves made by the rainfall, temperature, and enteric case-rates, with their averages for comparison. Chart B shows how the case-rate for the year is above or below a. line indicating the mean ot the previous five years in the whole district, and in Auckland City alone. Distribution op Cases according to Locality. Auckland and Suburb*. The notifications (40) vary only slightly from the previous year, the record of which was exceptionally low as compared with previous years. The deaths (5) exhibit a very low death-rate per J 000 living In Auckland City lam glad to note that, however much or little may result from departmental and local effort, the following satisfactory progress is observable:— 1903-4 ... ... •■■ ••• •• ••• " 1904-5 ... ■■ •■• ••■ ••• ••• ■•• ■•• zr 1905-6 ... .. ■■• ■•• •• ••• •" 6 Jt 1906-7 ... ■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■• '•• ■•• ■■■■*' I am again able to adduce the example of Devonport as showing how this progression towards an ideal may be helped forward by a complete and modern drainage system. Devonport in 1902-5 bad 10 cases'of enteric. After installation of its drainage system its record has been : — 1903-4 ... ... - - f 1904-5 ... ... .- 1905-6 ... gg--1906-7 ... mi - Us population is 5,073, or for those four years 20,222 persons enjoying the benefit of drainage have experienced only 2 cases. At this rate Auckland's 38,677 persons should have less than 4 CaeM CSfaglin h L a S Tease (and that not arising in the borough) in three years. Mount Eden.— The record here is distinctly bad :— 14 1901-2 (part of) • • • • • • • • "' g 1902-3 .. •• •• •• •• •• " 8 1903-4 5 1904-5 .. •• •• •• •• •• " 2 1905-6 .. •• ■• •• •■ •• 7 1906-7 Situated as Mount Eden is, much of it on high scoria ground, exposed to healthy southern and wester vinl and with a well-to-do population, this ought not to be. It is to be feared, too, that Z c"ire fever record does not fully express the mischief arising from lack of drainage. with 2 oases" of enteric-an improvement to no small degree effected by the enerizv of the local Sanitary Inspector. has 5 cases, which number is out of proportion to its population Here again W€ can slfeh- anticipate a Devonport-like diminution once the drainage so long talked of is inaugurated.