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1929
42
has been greatly exaggerated, but it is held by some that the
danger does exist. As some prominence has been given to this
aspect of the question in recent reports it may be desirable to
examine it more fully.
Several instances of epidemics and isolated instances of
intestinal diseases, including Enteric Fever and Dysentry have been
recorded. The best known was that reported in 1908 by Dr. Reece
to the Local Government Board of a small epidemic of Enteric
Fever at the Royal Marine Depot at Walmer. In this case it was
clearly proved that the outbreak was due to the sewage polluted
water which supplied the swimming pool. In all cases reported
the cause of the disease lay in the pollution of the water not from
persons bathing, but from discharges of recognised cases of the
disease in question which had access to the water at other points
or in general sewage pollution. The conditions are therefore not
analogous to those obtaining in the Council's swimming baths and
therefore can be ignored.
It is almost universally admitted that skin diseases are not
transm tted by means of the water in swimming baths. If transmitted
at all, it can only be by towels, costumes and seats rather
than by water. The Council's baths are provided with a good
laundry and the towels and slips are always boiled. There are
certain improvements which could be suggested such as the replacement
of the mangle by a calendar and possibly a little extra
labour during the rush hours.
Some epidemics of conjunctivitus have been reported from
America, but in this country no authentic instance is recorded.
Complaints have been received from some baths of inflamed and
smarting eyes, but these have usually occurred where chlorination
of the water has taken place and sufficient care had not be n
observed in the dosage, and too much free chlorine was present in
the water. It is the throat and ear affections which give the chief
gravamen to the charge of dissemenating disease against swimming
baths. Dr. Dan McKenzie in the Lancet stated that the prevalence
of ear diseases during the bathing season is well-known to surgeons,
but it occurs as frequently amongst open air bathers as it does
amongst those using closed baths. Middle-ear disease occurs most
frequently amongst those who have previously suffered from an
affection of the ear, and also amongst tho-e who bathe infrequently.
It is uncertain which of the two factors plays the chief part, namely
whether infection takes place from organisms present in the water
and derived from the naso-pharyngeal or other secretions of other
bathers, or whether the action of bathing is to cause an infection
of the patient's middle ear, owing to unhealthy conditions of his
own naso-pharynx, and the passage of organisms up the eustachian
tubes as the result of sniffing and of the changes in pressure incidental