BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1233, 15 February 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

The fortnightly meeting of the Local Board of Health was held at the close of the Drainage Board meeting. Present—Messrs Boss (iu the chair), Tancred, Harman, and Duncan. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. THE MEDICAL Oi’FCEES .REPORT. The report of Dr. Powell, medical officer, was read. He forwarded a set of rules for the guidance of housekeepers and families in case of infectious diseases. H e called attention to the existence of many old cesspits, from which poisonous percolations had been going on for years. He recommended the licensing and the inspection of dairies, as it was an undoubted fact that many epidemics had been spread through milk carrying the infection. The report inclosed an extract from the “ Lancet,” which supported the theory of infection being carried by contaminated milk, such milk being often adulterated with water of bad quality. Dr. Powell alsoreported that since the last meeting of the Board the following cases of contagious diseases had come to his kuowledge:—Typhoid, 13 cases; low fever, 2 cases ; enteric disease, 1 case; fever, 5 cases; scarlet fever, 4 cases ; scarlatina, 1 case ; diphtheria, -1 cases. The Board determined to have 1000 copies of the rules printed for distribution, in accordance with the medical officer’s recommendation, ami to request the newspapers to give publicity to the same. With regard to the cesspits, the Board regretted that their powers did not enable them to deal with the matter at present. The question of licensing and inspecting dairies was discussed, and it was resolved to recommend the sanitary committee to take steps to have some provision made to meet the case in the proposed Local Board of Health Act. inspector’s report. The inspector’s report stated that he had conferred with the Board’s solicitor, in conformity with instructions, in the matter of Lyttelton street. _ That gentleman did not advise proceedings being taken in the case. The report then gave the particulars of the cases referred to in the medical officer’s report. Another report from the Inspector, dated 13th February was read. It gave a returnS of the case against Mr King in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, also further particulars as to cases of fever. The reports were adopted. CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL. A letter from the Under Secretary was rereived. It stated that the Corporation of Christchurch had been asked to provide a disinfecting oven in connection with the Hospita 1 . In compliance with the request of the Board the Hospital authorities had been instructed to report all cases of infections diseases occurring at that institution to the medical officer of the Christchurch District Drainage Board. SANITAKV COMMITTEE The following report was brought up from the joint committee of the City Council and the Health Board That iu the opinion of this joint committee it is desirable that in the present state of the Public Health Act the supervision of sanitary matters within the city of Christchurch should bo left in the hands of the City Council, and that tho Drainage aji eucjj av py be

necessary to enable tho Connell to (lischnrffo the dnties so devolving on them with thorough efficiency ami legality, and that the proviso in clause 14 of the Public Health Act, 187(5, be repealed J. V. Ross (i hainnau.) A. W. Bickb ton. R. J. S. Harman. J. G. Rdddenklau.

A letter was road from the Town Clerk, intimating that tho report of the sanitary committee had been adopted by the * ouncil, and asking the Board what course they now proposed to follow, as sanitary matters in the city were in abeyance. The report of the joint committee wan after seme discussion adopted, and tho secretary was directed to inform tho town clerk of the fact. A number of accounts were passed for payment. This concluded the business.