BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1458, 18 October 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Friday, October 18. Tfie psual weekly meeting of the Board of Heafth was held at one o’clock. Present — Messrs Ross (in the chair), Tancred, and P uncan. 1 The Chairman said he had written to the Colonial Treasurer on the matter of the defective drainage of the Hoapital. MEDICAD OTTICEB’a REPORT.

The report was read as follows * ‘ 1 ’ Christ church, October 15th, 1578

To the Chairman of the Board of Health,— Sit, —I have the honor to' forward a report on the health of the district during the six months terminating September 30th, 1878. JJinetyejght cases of contagions diseases jhaye been reported during the year, viz. : Scarlatina, 45 ; typhoid, '3B ; feyer, 38 ; diphtheria, 15. Within the borough of Christchurch—Scarlatina, 31 ; typhoid fever, |5; diphtheria, 9. Mortality within the borough— Scarlatina, 3 ; typhoid fever, 4; diphtheria, 0. Tbpse statistics, as far as they go, are instructive, It will be seen that while two-thirds of the cases of scarlatina and diphtheria occurred within the borough, on the other hand considerably less than one-half of the typhoid fever cases are reported from within the city. The two former diseases are spread by personal communication, and would therefore be most rife in the most densely populated portion of the district.

Typhoid fever is always associated with insanitary conditions, defective drainage, and jfoecali accumulation, and the unquestionable Superiority of the borough in those respects hero comes prominently out. Scarlatina has prevailed very widely; the type, however, has continued to be extremely mild, and with the approach of summer it may he expected to decline, it being always more prevalent during the winter season. The fact that fifteen cases of diphtheria have been reported Peed give rise to nb'alarm, at the Majority of the' cases so'described wore, merely trifling sore throats. It will be seen that none the nine cases occurring within the borough 'ended fatally.' 1 ' 1 The mortality within the borough has continued low, being only' 1.37 per 1(]00 monthly fop the five mpnthji ending Aqguat Blst, arid has f)« pn almost uninfluenced by zyinotic pjgeasp. I beg most earnestly to again direct the attention of the Board to the question of increased water supply. In spite of the unusually severe freshets and floods in the rivers, more particularly the Waimakariri, with which our artesian sources have been supposed to communicate, the level of the rfrells continues so low that in the higher parts of the town some of the pipes have at this early period of tho summer required to he cut down in order to obtain a flow. I have the honor, &c., LpewbUjTN Powfltj, M.D., ... ,i ~ i^fialthOfficer. Mr Duncan thought a copy of the clause in reftfreriCe to the water supply ought to he forwarded to the City Council. If Dr. Powell could give a comparison between Christchurch and Sydenham in the matter of health and mortality it might be of great value. The population was half as much as that of Christchurch. Mr Tancred said there would probably be one part of Sydenham very good and tho other very bad. The district would have to be divided into component parts if the comparison were to be of any value. It was resolved to request the medical officer to furnish a return as required, and to confine it to zjmotic and typhoid diseases. THE INSPECXOB’S BEPOBT. Tbs report was read as follows iI*. I beg to report that the school premises at St. Albans are now supplied with closet 'pans, and arrangements have been made with Mr Brightling for their being emptied. Arrangements have also been made with him for 1 the like service on several premises in Phillipstown. An opportunity will thus be afforded to others residing in the neighbourhood of those places who may wish to engage his services. 2. The consent of the boar t is requested by Mr Paschell to his commencing business as a tanner and fellmonger on part section 87, Heathcote district. Tho land requires surface drainage. He will, with permission of the Board, lay pipes for that purpose. 3. Complaint is again made of the bad condition of Lyttelton street, arising from an accumulation of stagnant sewage. I have suggested the course to be adopted by the inhabitants to procure the formation and drainage of that street. 4; Mr Anson calls attention to the fmd state PI the sidy channel on tho south side of the South town belt, near his residence, 'llio channel foferred t'o has beert included in a list which has' been forwarded to tho City Council. 5. The side channel on tho south side of Third street Waltham is in foul condition from house drainage; apparently tho channel could he drained into the Waltham sewer.

(j. I have inspected the Gaol premises, Addington, drainage continues to be disposed

of by soakage into the ground, and this in the neighborhood of artesian wells that do not rise to the surface. The medical officer has already given a caution that the drinking water from such wells is liable to contamination from surface drainage.

7. The Board’s solicitor has ad vis 3d tbe course to be adopted in giving validity to the by-law regulating tbe keeping of swine. Wm. Pearce, Chief Inspector of Nuisances. With regard to the second clause Mr F. E. Wright, on behalf of himself and several other residents, protested against the establishment of the fellmongory in question, and asked the Board not to grant the applicalion.

Mr Duncan thought these follmongories ought to be near together. The application of Mr Paschell himself was read. Ho expressed his intention of laying down pipes to drain into the river. The inspector said Mr Paschell had paid £4O an acre for the property in question with the view of starting this business. It was resolved to request Mr Paschell to furnish a plan of the ground, and some other particulars. The matter was then postponed until the next meeting.

The question of Lyttelton street was referred to the City Council, with a request that they would take immediate action. The fourth clause was also referred to the same body.

With regard to the next clause, it was considered that under the circumstances—being so far from the nearest wells—it was beyond the province of the Board. The other clauses wore approved of, and the report as a whole adopted. The by-law on the keeping of swine was laid upon the table, to remain there until next meeting for the benefit of members. This was all the business, and the Board adjourned.