THE HEALTH OF GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2317, 9 October 1908, Page 2

THE HEALTH OF GISBORNE.

THE TOWN’S SANITARY NEEDS.

STRAIGHT TALK BY DR. DE LISLE. [Special, to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, Oct. 8sDr. DeLisle (in the annual report to the Health Department) makes the following remarks regarding Gisborne : From, its situation this Borough should be the healthiest in the Dominion, but from its defective sanitary arrangement or perhaps want of any sanitary arrangements, it suffers from more preventible diseaso than any other town in my district. Nineteen cases of enteric and 9 of diptheria have been notified during the past year. This compares very unfavorably with Hastings with 5 of each. Roth towns have nearly the same population and yet Hastings is not a pattern for sanitary imitation. Both compare very unfavorably with Napier. 5 of one and 4 of the other, yet Napier has more than twice the population. Gisborne compares unfavorably with all the other towns in my district. The scheme for supplying Gisborne with pure water, designed by Air Hay, C.E. of Dunedin, was available for the townspeople during the long spell of dry weather' which occurred last- summer. The boon of a copious supply of pure water during the drought was enjoyed for the first time in the history of Gisborne and was much appreciated. The water is good, but lias the disadvantage of being hard, most of the hardness being temporary. It should prove a factor in reducing the amount of preventible disease in Gisborne, but with the. increasing congestion in the. centre of the town, I fear' there will riot ho so very much alteration till a thorough system of drainage on a sound design is installed and taken advantage of. The Borough Council hare employed Air Alestayer, C.E. of Wellington, to draw up such a scheme, which lie submitted to them some time back. To carry out Hie whole scheme at once would involve i larger expenditure than Gisborne is prepared to face, but the design ", is of such a nature that the work can bo carried on in sections, where most required at present and added to as required without interfering with its __ homogenity. A portion of the work to drain ilie most congested portion of the town where drainage is most urgently needed could be carried out for £50,000. This should not prove too great a sum to face, and the expenditure would prove a very sound investment. Up to the present the matter has not been laid before the ratepayers, Hut when it is, if It is properly represented to them. I have little doubt that the poll will favor the raising of the loan. It is risking the 'health of- the residents of tho town to attempt to carry on in Gisborne much longer with, this condition of affairs, and if the installation of drainage is much delayed,a reckoning must follow. Tho Gisborne people should lose no time in proceeding with tlio work. I mentioned in my last report that the plans for tho much needed isolation ward at tlio hospital were out-. I am now pleased' to he able to report that the structure lias been completed in a manner that reflects credit on all concerned. Last Alay, when tho 2 cases of plague were under observation in Auckland, a case occurred in Gisborne which gave rise to some anxiety. .A recent arrival in the town, a man of respectable habits, who lived ill a newly, well-situa-ted bonce on the Kaiti and was employed by the'Harbor Board as a wharf laborer, in the course of his work, part of which was handling hides, received a wound on his finger from a wool hook. As tin’s did not heal readily, lie consulted a chemist sonic 4 or 5 days after, the wound being still unhealed. He was taken seriously ill and Dr Collins was summoned. Dr Collins found the patient with a temperature of 108 Fahrenheit; low muttering delirium. There was no redness of the lymphatics lior enlargement of the glands. There were petcliial on various parts 'Of the body, and some oposthotonns. Dr Coker was called in consul'"mon. but notwithstanding their an ted efforts the patient died. A fust mortem was made by Dr Scott; the srleen was found to be diffluent. There were infactions in the lungs, and the niidacardium was ulcerated and covered with vegetations. Specimens were removed for future examination. An inquest was held. and. tlio only, evidence that was called was that of Dr Scott. The evidence of the practitioners, who attended the patient during life, was dispensed with, notwithstanding that they would have been able to give valuable testimony. I immediately proceeded to Gisborne and, in company with Drs. Collins and Coker —Dr. Scott was not able to be present—made microscopical ex lminations of the smears of the spleen and other organs. Wo found no nestis. The case was suspicious in many ways and merited the most careful investigation, and this revealed that it was "not one of plague. I desire to record with appreciation tlio courteous manner in which the chairman of the Hospital Trustees placed a valuable mierosoopo of the Hospital at my dispposa! to enable me to make the necessary examination. Prior to my arrival the Borough Council had acted most judiciously, disinfecting the house and burning all articles of clothing belonging to the deceased. The bodv was buried in a kauri coffin and I recommended that the grave should bo completely isolated and received •a guarantee from the Alayor that this should be done.

In regard to Tologa lie says: This township is .growing fast and promises soon to he a place of importance which will need attention. Tlie condition of tlie roads ■ connecting Tologa with Gisborne will always make visiting the pi ice one of difficulty and a serious tax on tlie time of the staff of this office. During the year the hotel at Tologa was burnt down. An up-to-date structure is being built, provided with proper sanitary arrangements, septic tank, etc. I hive been consulted hv the architect on these matters, and liavo given him my advice.