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15
To determine the actual causes of the yearly prevalence in the
district is probably impossible. The circumstances accompanying
this incidence are so many and so complex ; and it is probable that
many factors are at work to keep up the yearly prevalence.
Nevertheless, we had, early in the year, a limited outbreak of
typhoid which appeared to be connected with a definite cause. The
cases appeared to me to have some connection with pollution of the
soil near the dwellings in which the cases occurred.
The area in question is represented in the accompanying chart,
the cases having been almost confined to one street, namely, Tyssen
Street, the exceptional case bordering on this street.
The total number of cases did not exceed ten, but the circumstances
connected with the outbreak are so exceptional as to merit
record.
The direction of Tyssen Street is from N. to S., its northern
end terminating at the North Metropolitan Railway Line, and its
southern end being bounded by Tyssen Place and Tyssen Passage.
Most of the cases occurred in the houses on the eastern side of the
street, but behind the houses on the western side of the street is a
large open space measuring something like three quarters of an acre.
This space has been used at intervals for some years by itinerant
shows, the last to be located there was Lord George Sanger's Circus
and Menagerie from Christmas of 1897 to the first week in March
of 1898. Immediately after the Circus had left my attention was
called to the foul condition of the place. I gave instructions for the
place to be cleaned up, and all filth to be removed. Its condition
may be imagined when I state that 15 cart-loads of manure were
removed from the ground, much of it being the manure of carnivorous
beasts of the show, besides the carcases of several dead
animals and a large quantity of putrid meat. The cost of this
removal was charged to the proprietors of the show. Immediately
after the cleansing, the owner of the land enclosed it by a hoarding,
which was completed in the 2nd week in July. From the first week
in March up to this date the land was open to the public, and children
from the neighbouring houses made it a play-ground.