View report page

25
Typhoid Fever.—During the year there were registered 3
deaths from Typhoid Fever as against 1 only during the
preceding year. Although it is a generally accepted fact that
sewage emanations may give rise to enteric fever, it is comparatively
seldom that one has such positive evidence of the
direct relationship between the two as one of these cases afforded.
A house in a good sanitary condition, and showing from my
register a "clean bill" so far as any previous visitation of
zymotic disease among any of its occupants was concerned,
became insanitary by reason of a sudden stoppage of the drain
and the consequent bursting of the joint with the soil-pipe.
The result was that every time the upstairs water-closet was used
the excremental matter escaped at this leak, accumulated under
the "footings," and after a time appeared above the cellar floor,
where it was discovered standing to a height of about an inch.
Before the condition could be rectified the odour was more
especially complained of by one of the occupants of the house
who occupied a bedroom situated over the escape, and in this
particular room the odour of the sewage made itself very
manifest, more especially at night time. The individual had
previously enjoyed immunity from those conditions that have
been shown to have their origin in such emanations, but in
eighteen days he was laid up with enteric fever. It seemed
highly improbable that, in this case, the patient could have
contracted th; disease away from the house.
The new treatment of Diphtheria by the injection of
so-called "Anti-Toxin" is now recognised by very many
practitioners to be a most valuable remedy. The superior
results which have been furnished by this method on the
Continent are accounted for by the fact that there the remedy
has generally been applied somewhat earlier in the course of the
disease and in larger doses.
The Rationale of the treatment is as follows:— Diphtheria
is now believed to be due to a chemical poison ("toxin"), which
is formed in the throat by a special germ, and which becoming
absorbed iuto the system, gives rise to the peculiar symptoms of