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40
On reviewing the outbreak as a whole, I am of opinion
that there were two distinct sources of infection. There can
be little doubt that S., G.T., and R.T. were all infected at
the same time, from the same cause, which it has been impossible
to trace, and it is almost certain that A.T. was also
infected at the same time, although, owing to the irregular
type and anomalous character the disease shewed in his case,
apparently at no time was he sufficiently ill to raise suspicions
that he was suffering from Enteric Fever. The
medical man whom A.T. eventually consulted after the acute
symptoms had passed off, is of opinion that it is very probable
that he suffered from Enteric Fever; with this opinion I
entirely agree.
To A.T. I attribute the second outbreak, beginning on
September 1st, and ending on November 18th, giving rise
to 11 cases A.T.'s sister suffered from Enteric Fever, and
also two children in the next house.
In another house three persons were affected, one adult
and two children, and two cases occurred in the next house
to this.
As to the manner in which infection was conveyed, it
is difficult to speak with certainty, but of course where no
suspicions exist no precautions will be taken, and consequently
there must have been many ways by which infection
could have been carried. It is now well known that the common
house fly may be a carrier of disease, and this has been
experimentally proved in fclie case of Typhoid Fever. The
great number of flies affecting this district was very noticeable,
and it is quite possible that these may have been the
chief carriers of infection, and in consequence everything was
done to inculcate cleanliness and to destroy any accumulation
which was likely to harbour flies.
The explanation of the occurrence of the last three cases
presents more difficulty. The time which elapsed between
September 11th and October 15th clearly shews that F.R.