Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 402

EVIDENCE

taken by the Commission appointed to inquire into the causes of Fever in the Western District.

1st February, 1888.

EVIDENCE OF DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL LEWER, P.M.O., A.M.S.

By the Chairman.

1.--Had you fever yourself in 1887 ?

A.-No.

2. Had you fever in your house?

A.-A great deal.

3.-Do you consider it malarial or enteric?

A.-I hope you will allow me to qualify my answer to that question inasmuch as from May to the middle of October the fever was decidedly of a malarial character among my servants. After that time the fever was of a different type, an anomalous type. As I expressed it in the appendix I signed to His Excellency the Governor.-" About the middle of October the cases of fever among my servants and in my household were of an anomalous type and could not be classed by me under the headings of the fever nomenclature in use by the profession. It was characterised by gastro-intestinal dis- turbance, great prostration of strength, faintness almost amounting to collapse, utter loss of appetite, a strawberry tongue, thirst, vertigo which necessitated the seizing hold of something to prevent falling, pain over the abdomen, skin at times cold and clammy, sometimes actual vomiting of any food taken, and sometimes of glairy mucus only. The loss of strength and prostration were most marked for most of the attack and the result- ing anæmia from blood spoliation, and arrest of assimilative power profound." That is the type of disease, sir, so far as I have been able to observe it.

By Dr. Yarr.

4.-There was no periodicity in it?

A.-None whatever. It was characterised by cold clammy sweats.

marked heat of skin, but more of collapse.

5.-How long did it last?

There was no

A. I hardly know when it ended in my servants' cases. As regards my wife, I am sorry to say she has been suffering from it from October until now, I may almost say. She was better in December, but the anemia has been so marked that she has not been able to gain strength or take food.

6.-It did not end in any crisis?

A.-No crisis. I was on the look out for that.

By the Chairman.

7.—Had Mrs. LEWER fever prior to 1887, and if so of what nature and when? A.-No; Mrs. LEWER has not had fever before.