The Mussack and Typhoid.- -The question of the water-supply co iroups 111 xnuia aiwaja uaupicu u, Departlarge space in the report of the Army Medical A great deal is being done to lessen the mortament. Davies (late lity from enteric fever. Surgeon-Major was directed Assistant Professor of Hygiene at Netley) at to make sanitary and bacteriological examinations Subathu and Dagsliai. His reports, now printed, are said to be the first of this nature made on any military cantonment in India. Several schemes for improved and only await water-supply are under consideration, with. "With be to proceeded bacteriological reports the says : "No report excreta of regard to the disposal continue to be will in theory, system, however excellent Euroeffective unless carried out under supervision by of India has adopted the Government The peans." of the mussack, and is principle of the elimination direct to the kitchens water the to endeavouring convey thus obviating the of means pipes, and lavatories by water in leather mussacks by necessity of conveying in the the native carriers. This is an important step it will notably diminish the risks of for direction, right In a statement to the House of Lords
contamination,
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
184
concerning the British troops in South Africa, the Marquis of Lansdowne appears to have favoured an opinion, unfortunately deeply rooted in the popular mind that the spread of infection in the case of typhoid fever may be due to the presence in water of decomposing animal -
of the carcasses of animals that have died from other kinds of disease. The Marquis of Lansdowne " stated that there had been a great deal of enteric fever, due, he believed, in a great measure to the pollution of the streams from the dead bodies of the numerous cattle that had perished from rinderpest of late." It cannot be too clearly recognised that typhoid or enteric fever is a specific infective fever, which is transmitted rarely directly but often indirectly from patient to patient; that it is not the result of the action of putrefying or diseased animal matter; that it does not ari?e de novo, but is always brought into a camp or barrack by The surest a patient already suffering from the disease. method of getting rid of enteric'fever is to appreciate this fact. The addition organic impurities to water does not necessarily convert it into disease-producing water, although the presence of animal organic matter indicates the possibility of the access of infective matter. Water contaminated by sewage even may not be infective, although the presence of such sewage points to the liability of the water to become specifically infected should a case of enteric fever occur amongst the people from amongst whom the sewage material is taken. Until this fact is thoroughly appreciated and efforts are made to trace and get rid of the sources of specific infection much vain effort will be put forth to quell typhoid and cholera epidemics, and the real cause will be allowed to continue its operation undisturbed, and often even matter
or
"
assisted.
?
^
[May
1899.
contamination,
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
184
concerning the British troops in South Africa, the Marquis of Lansdowne appears to have favoured an opinion, unfortunately deeply rooted in the popular mind that the spread of infection in the case of typhoid fever may be due to the presence in water of decomposing animal -
of the carcasses of animals that have died from other kinds of disease. The Marquis of Lansdowne " stated that there had been a great deal of enteric fever, due, he believed, in a great measure to the pollution of the streams from the dead bodies of the numerous cattle that had perished from rinderpest of late." It cannot be too clearly recognised that typhoid or enteric fever is a specific infective fever, which is transmitted rarely directly but often indirectly from patient to patient; that it is not the result of the action of putrefying or diseased animal matter; that it does not ari?e de novo, but is always brought into a camp or barrack by The surest a patient already suffering from the disease. method of getting rid of enteric'fever is to appreciate this fact. The addition organic impurities to water does not necessarily convert it into disease-producing water, although the presence of animal organic matter indicates the possibility of the access of infective matter. Water contaminated by sewage even may not be infective, although the presence of such sewage points to the liability of the water to become specifically infected should a case of enteric fever occur amongst the people from amongst whom the sewage material is taken. Until this fact is thoroughly appreciated and efforts are made to trace and get rid of the sources of specific infection much vain effort will be put forth to quell typhoid and cholera epidemics, and the real cause will be allowed to continue its operation undisturbed, and often even matter
or
"
assisted.
?
^
[May
1899.
