The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-14 00:00:00

THE RECENT FEVER EPIDEMIC AT

KID DERMINSTE R.

[DR. PARSON'S REPORT,
Dr. Parson's report to .the Local Government
Board on the recent epidemic of enteric fever in
Kidderminster was published on Monday night. It
will be remembered that the sudden general out-
break of enteric: fever occurred in the latter part
of August, 1884, Dr. Parson's inspection was
made in October and November. 1884. The re-
port states :—Fresh ewes continued to Loccur in
large numbers all through September, but since
the commencement of October the epidemic is
believed to have been on the decline, lhe total
number of cases to November 14th is estimated at
1,200. The first death from enteric fever oc -
cut red on August 25th, and up to November 14th
the total number of deaths which have occurred
has been 89. '1 he fever would seem to have been
of a somewhat mild type, the mortality being
about 7i per cent., but there was no difference
of opinion among the medical men as to itsinature,
which is also attested by the nature of the compli-
cations in some of the fatal cases as intestinal
haaaeorrhage, perforations of intestines, diarrhcea,
&c, In several of the streets in which fever has
been most prevalent there are defective conditions
in the sewers, e.g , bad fall, absence or insufficiency
Of ventilation and flushing. No noteworthy
difference was observable in the prevalence of
fever in blocks of houses provided with water-
closets and with midden privies. In some of the
streets which have been largely invaded the one
appliance prevails ;in others, the other. Almost
the whole of the cases occurred within the area sup-
plied by the town water service, but a few were
outside the sewerage area. The patients' frequent
communication with the town prevented any im-
portance being attached to the exceptions in either
case. The greater number of cases occurred in the
families of respectable artisans, though neither the
classes above nor below these in the social scale
escaped. In a report to the Sanitary Authority,
aated September 9th, the Borough Engineer, while
denying the existence of any source cf danger in
connection with the sewerage and water service,
attributed the disease to the existence of nuisances
in connection with the midden privies in the town.
No words of condemnation can be too strong for
the system of midden privies as it exists in Kidder-
minster. The middensteads are often of enormous
size and depth-8 feet by 6 feet and 3 feet depth
below the ground level are common dimensions,
and one was noted in George Street which is 10 feet
by 8 feet and 6 feet in depth. Being thus sunk •
helow the surface, and often receiving rainwater
(the roofs being often arranged so as to drip into
them) the contents are generally very wet and
offensive. They are often placed in very confined
ehuations close to houses and even built aeanst
them. This is the case with the very lerge one in
George Street, before mentioned. Each midd en-
stead is usually in connection with several privies,
and each privy commonly serves for more than one
ta Ay. Consequently if enteric fever excreta
should be thrown into a midden a number of
different householders would in using the privies be
exposed to effluvia from specifically infected filth.
The Town Council are satisfied if one privy or
water closet be provided to every three houses,
but these appliances do not always exist even in
th s scanty proportion. Owing to the divided
responsibility for their cleanliuess these privies are
frequently to be found in an extremely filthy con-
dition. The removal is undertaken by the Corpora- '
(ion, but is not performed with necessary frequency
nor upon system, the carts being sent from one part
of the town to anoth,r according as complaints
are received. In spite of the large size of the
receptacles many were found overfull, the contents
being littered upon the neighbouring yard surface.
Having considered the possibilities—first, of a
general contamination of the town water-supply at
its source, and, second, of local contamination
through the reflux of foul matters into the terminal
branehes, Dr. Parsons concluded :—The cause of
the outbreak cannot, therefore, be with certainty
assigned. Po:sibly it has not been one and the
same in all cases. Fortunately, however, any
doubt on this head does not aff ct the question—
what steps are requisite for the future? By pro—
viding an adequate and constant supply of water
from a source beyond the risk of contamination, by
rectifying the defects of sewers and house drains,
by abolishing the filthy midden privies, and
generally by promoting the am, lloration of the
sanitation of theit district, the lown Council will
have taken the best steps to guard against the re-
currence of a similar disaster. There seems to have
been, at the commencement of the epidemic, a lack
of prompt and adequate action both on the part of
the Town Council and their medical officer of health
The latter did not report the existence of fever to
the Authority until ieptember the 2nd. nor did he
give notice thereof to the Lac d Government Board,
as required by the regulaions under which he is
appointed.
Recommendations follow for averting a recur-
rence of a similar visitation,

TETT: LYE,
CONSEUVATVIE LECTURE.— A largely-attenled
meeting was held at the Temperance lfall, Lye, on
Monday night, for the purpose of hearing Mr. W.
Touchstone (of the National Union of Conservottve
Association) deliver a lecture upon the subject,
"Why is a Working M 313 a Conservative." Mr.
Hickman presided, and there were also present upon
the platform, in addition to the lecturer, Messrs.
Hickman, jun., ; S. A. Brooks, J. Wrd, J.
Brooks, C. H. Rho -les, B. Brett, G. It, Burton, D.
Batham, &c. The chairman, it introducing the
lecturer, briefly referred to the great depression of
trade and to the difficulty working men exparienced
in finding employment, and said there must be
something radically wrong in the Government of
the country for things to have arrived at the present
pass. It had been said on the Conservative side of
the House of Commons that there should be some
'wintry made as to why the depresEdon of hallo
existed, but that had been most petsistently refused
by the present Government, who would not sanc-
tion any inquiry into the matter. Mr. Touchstone,
who next addressed the meeting, said if they would
take the peri,d f about fifly-t.vo years past they
would find the Liberals had been in pow, r thirty
live trir;i the Tories seventeen years. Thus the
Lioe.nt pArty had had twice as much opportunity
of developing a policy and producing', good truit as
the Tories had had. After enumerating the bene-
ficial to,nsures passed by the Couservatives, ho went
on to show that the Conservative Government
when in power preserved the houour of the country