Reprints of articles contributed to medical journals, 1895-1909 / by John D. Gimlette.

  • Gimlette, John D. (John Desmond), 1867-1934
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Reprints of articles contributed to medical journals, 1895-1909 / by John D. Gimlette. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    54/160 (page 50)
    comparatively .small in quantity. It is less than one- fifteenth of that found in the contaminated water supplied to Cwmfelin, near Llanelly, a few years ago. It is interesting to note in connection with the latter instance, which is reported in the Lancet of July 29th 1893, that the Pahang water was also essentially a soft water. The occurrence of this rather rare instance of poisoning suggests the advisability of a special inquiry with regard to a possible contamination of water in the towns of Australia and South Africa where galvanised iron roofs and tanks are used for the purpose of collecting and storing rain water, and although soil and circum- stances undoubtedly play a chief part in the causation of typhoid fever in these countries, it is not unreasonable to suppose that zinc poisoning might be a factor in the causation of some of the gastro-intestinal symptoms. It appears that only after prolonged boiling and sub- sequent filtration water containing the acid carbonate of zinc might be harmless. It must be borne in mind, however, that the climates are essentially different, and perhaps in this may be found the determining cause of the Pahang epidemic. The mean annual temperature at Kuala Lipis in 1900 was 82.0° F., the minimum tem- perature 71° F., the rainfall 9.69 inches, with an average number of thirteen rainy days per month. References. [1] Lancet, vol. ii, 1897 ; vol, ii. 1896 ; yoI. ii, 1893. Reports jby Dr. P. J. Burgess, Government Analyst. Government Analyst’s Office, Singapore, April 12th, 1901. Report on Three Samples of Water, and a Piece oj Zinc Gutter sent [or analysis by the Resident Surgeon oj Pahang. The samples were labelled as follows : A, B, C, D, E, and F. Of these A, B, C, D, and E were samples of water