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It is important to note that the cause of the outbreak cannot definitely be
attributed to the water taken on at Bombay but the relationship of the use of this
water and the grouping of cases is somewhat suggestive.
All the tanks in the double bottom of the ship used for the storage of water
are inter-connecting and when drinking water is required, the valve between the
particular tank and the pump is opened and the water pumped up through filters to a
gravity tank on the top deck of the ship. From the gravity tank the water flows
through three main outlets, to the forward section of the ship, to the galley and
to the stern section of the ship respectively. The outlets split up into a large
number of branches which distribute the water throughout the ship. Scattered
throughout convenient parts of the living accommodation are eleven public drinking
water fountains situated in a convenient alleyway. To reach each drinking
fountain the water passes through a small carbon filter, the object of which is to
remove from the water any small particles of rust or other deposit which otherwise
would fall into the dr inking receptacle when the water is turned on.
It is stated that these filters are taken apart and cleaned once a fortnight
but there is some doubt about this.
It cannot be denied that the system of using small filters for this purpose
is not satisfactory in that these filters, unless frequently and carefully cleansed,
tend to promote the growth of organisms in the water and thus to become a source of
contamination of the water.
SANITATION.
14. The sanitation of the ship follows the usual ships' practice but the dispositii
of soil pipes in certain parts of the ship is not altogether satisfactory.
In this connection it must be remembered that this ship was converted for use
as an armed cruiser in the early days of the war which necessitated the removal of
much of her passenger accommodation and considerable interference with the plumbing
arrangements. Later on she was again converted, for use as a transport and again
her plumbing underwent considerable change. The result is that plumbing lines are
in some instances found to wander about before they discharge overside and to be
laid in proximity to water pipe lines.
15. Plumbing defects were carefully examined but no evidence was found of any
leakage between the waste pipes and water supply.
The usual blockages of soil pipes occurred d\iring the voyage and were, as far
as possible, attended to-by the ship's staff. Defects were corrected by the
shore plumbers during the ship's stay in port.
It is doubtful whether the defects were such as to occasion the contamination
of the drinking water or other services connected with the food supply to the
extent that would produce an outbreak of Typhoid fever so widely distributed
through the ship's crew and involving a certain number of passengers.
CASES.

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