Enteric fever : its prevalence and modifications, ætiology, pathology and treatment as illustrated by Army data at home and abroad / by Francis H. Welch.

  • Welch, Francis H.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Enteric fever : its prevalence and modifications, ætiology, pathology and treatment as illustrated by Army data at home and abroad / by Francis H. Welch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fever, but where contracted and when occurring no details are given ; in the latter end of 1873 there are several fatal cases, “ faecal contamination of air and water ” abounding; in 1874 there is an epidemic of the disease ; following this sanitary measures are put in force, and 1875 records no case, nor appar- ently do the succeeding years up to 1880. The potency of these insanitary conditions to foster and diffuse enteric fever is palpable in this station, but it is equally clear that something more than these was wanting to generate it. There is no mention made of the introduction of the disease at Newcastle, but it existed in the plains, and could have been as easily carried to the hill station, as from the hill sta- tion to Port Royal and Up Park Camp. Sporadic cases were, in these islands, as elsewhere, more numerous than localized outbreaks ; and with the latter were associated marked conservancy de- fects, and at Newcastle contaminated water also. Faecal contamination of air was the usual medium through which the disease was diffused; but thi's condition was not limited solely to the site and occa- sion of enteric fever prevalence. In 1859 the dis- ease was present in the first quarter of the year; in 1872 entirely in the fourth ; in 1873 present throughout the year, but greater in the second and third quarter ; thus showing an independence of sea- son so far as the necessary association of conditions was concerned. The selection of the young soldiers as victims was shown in the death ratios of the Newcastle outbreak. If we exclude Newcastle, the black troops have more frequently given exemplifications than the