View report page

39
mation was obtained that A.T. had only recently come under
his care, that he appeared to have gone through some severe
illness, and he thought it quite probable that he had suffered
from enteric fever. On visiting A.T. he was found to be in
the condition described. A bacteriological examination of a
specimen of his blood gave a typical enteric (Widal) reaction,
and from other clinical signs there can be no doubt that he
had suffered from an attack of typhoid fever, although
judging from the account of his illness it had been of an
irregular, anomalous and atypical character.
The following precautions were also taken. All children
from this District were excluded from school, the Sunday
School was closed due to the courtesy of the Rev. H. G.
Phillipson, in the absence of the Rev. J. T. Lang, of Christ
Church.
Leaflets containing simple instructions were left at every
house, a visit was made daily or more frequently as occasion
required by myself and Mr. Franklin, and pressure was
brought upon the inhabitants to keep their houses in a cleanly
state, to burn all household rubbish, and to destroy any accumulation
which was likely to harbour flies, and one of the
staff was especially detailed to see to the daily disinfecting
of the sanitary conveniences. Any person shewing the
slightest sign of illness was at once examined, and a bacteriological
examination made of the blood. By these means
eight cases were discovered at a very early period of the
disease, and promptly removed to hospital. In order, further,
to prevent the accumulation of rubbish, and to destroy as
far as possible anything that was likely to harbour flies, the
dust receptacles were emptied three times a week by the
courtesy of the Surveyor, which was ratified by the Committee,
and fly papers were distributed to every house. A
careful watch was kept on all persons removing from the
District.