BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1649, 3 June 1879, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Monday, June 2, The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board of Health was held at the close of the Drainage Board meeting. Present —Messrs R. J. 8. Harman (chairman), H. J. Tancred, H. J. Hall, A. Duncan, 0. R. Blakiston, J. E. Brown, Fred. Hobbs, and J. Y. Rosa. inbpectob’b bvpoatb. The following reports of the inspector were read ; May sth, 1879. 1. In accordance with instructions from the Board. I have served notice on Mr Bradwell, Old Stanraore road, under clause 59 of the Public Health Act, to do the necessary work for abating a nxisance on his premises. The notice will expire on the Bth inst. 2. A similar notice served on Mr Knowles, Sydenham, expired on the 29th nit. The work therein required to bo done is not yet completed. Mr Knowles bus since called upon me, and apologised for his delay, which is caused by some blacksmith’s work being required in connection with it, which I have ascertained to be the fact. 3. I have inspected certain premises in the Heathcote district indicated in Mr Richardson’s letter of complaint, who expresses himself satisfied upon my report that the horse to which ho refers was sufficiently buried. 4. I desire as forcibly as possible to call attention to the unsatisfactory condition of a narrow private street known as Scott’s road, Sydenham. Several cases of typhoid fever have occurred in houses fronting on this street, and in the vicinity. Even with the little rain there has been, several large holes upon the street are now full of stagnant water. The inhabitants, who complain very bitterly of this state of things, have not, I am informed, complied with conditions proposed to them by the Sydenham Borough Council, upon compliance with which the Council would deal with the matter, and thus the street remains in its present unsatisfactory condition. 5. I have noted in my report book the existence of a water closet on premises therein indicated. Although I urn not aware that any complaint has been made of it as a nuisance, yet as the overflow is conveyed away by the street side channel. I bring the circumstance to the knowledge of the Board. Wm. Pearce, Chief Inspector of Nuisances.

May 19th, 1879. 1. I have the honor to report as follows: —In accordance with instructions from the chairman I have directed the attention of his Worship the Mayor of Sydenham, to Scott’s road, as reported by me.

2. The notices served on Mr Bradwell and Mr Knowles to abate a nuisance arising from want of sufficient drainage, have been complied with; that on Mr Knowles I cannot report as done in a workmanlike manner, and is not strictly in accordance with notice, I have passed it, however, as the nuisance is in a measure abated, and in the anticipation that a rule must shortly be made which shall apply to all premises requiring drainage to the side channels.

3. I am urgently requested by the inhabitants of Crescent road to report the bad condition of the ditches in that locality, the stench arising from that on the west side of the road cannot be exaggerated. I consider, however, that the existence of so many old privy cesspools on a soil there should not exist a single one, greatly adds to the bai odour detected in the neighbourhood, I should mention in justice to some of the inhabitants that they have long since abolished the cesspool, and now complain that so many still exist. I have spoken to the Board’s surveyor (Avon), who stated he had already the subject on his notes for the next meeting of the Board.

4. The portion of the south drain complained of by the City Council Ims been cleaned out, the rubbish removed, consisting almost entirely of house refuse thrown in from premises abutting on the drain. 5. A nuisance exists on the premises of the Lower Heathcote School from want of a urinal and additional closets; on the premises of Colombo Road School from dilapidated condition of closets: on premises of St. Albans School, from overflowing closet pans and defective urinal. I have seen the chairmen of the school committees, who state that steps have been or shall be taken to abate these nuisances. 5. I have called the attention of Mr Dunford to a nuisance existing on premises owned by him, situate on Ensor’s road, arising from a stagnant and offensive water hole. He has promised to communicate with me in a few days on the subject. Wm. Pearce, Chief Inspector of Nuisances. Juno 2nd, 1879. I beg to report ns follows : 1. The Avon Road Board have now taken into their serious consideration the necessity for providing a scavengering service for the thickly populated portion of their district. The city scavenger having expressed his desire to be relieved from duty beyond the city boundary, I have suggested this as a suitable opportunity for the St. Alban’s school committee and others who are applying for or who require such services communicating with the Road Board on the subject. 2. In regard to the improvement and additions required to closets on premises of Colombo road and Lower Heathcote Schools, nothing has yet been done. I would again call the attention of the Board to the subject, as I consider better accommodation an absolute necessity. 3. Owing to complaints of frequent had smells at Opawa, I have inspected in that neighbourhood, and have written to the surveyor of the Heathcote Eoad Board, calling attention to a culvert near the river bridge which is not effectual in draining some premises on which had accumulated a quantity of stagnant drainage likely to be very injurious to health, and is otherwise detrimental to the locality. 4. A nuisance exists on the right-of-way part section 175, Heathcote district, owing to want of drainage, and to objectionable matter being carted into hollow places thereon, I am informed it was projected to widen it out as a main street, by so doing the nuisance would be effectually dealt with. 5. My attention has been directed to weeds left on the river bank at Avonaide, which cause a very ‘bad smell, and arc obstructive to drains and culverts seeking an outlet into the river. 6. I have to report a nuisance on premises in occupation of Mr W. Wall, Paulson street, Addington, arising from the manner of keeping and feeding a large number of pigs. I beg the authority of the Board for taking proceedings under clause 52 or 59 of the Act. W. Pearce, Chief Inspector of Nuisances. After some discussion the reports were adopted. Several letters were rend, some of which related to matters that had been already attended to.

After some discussion tho reports were al adopted. MEDICAL OPPICEE’S EEPORT.

Dr. Powell’s report was read, as follows : Christchurch, May 16th, 1679. To tho Chairman of the Board of Health. Sir,—l have the honor to forward a report on

the health of Christchurch during the first quarter of the year. The following are the numbers of the householders who reported the existence of infect ions diseases during the three months : —Typhoid 78, diphtheria 13, scarlatina 9. The cases have been distributed as follows :—Christchurch —Typhoid 30, diphtheria 3. scarlatina 1. SydenhamTyphoid 17, diphtheria 2, scarlatina 4. _ Remainder of district —Typhoid 31, diphtheria 8, scarlatina 4. And according to the months: — Jan.—Typhoid 22, dipthcria 3, scarlatina 6. Feb.—-Typhoid 33, diphtheria 3, scarlatina 1, March —Typhoid 23, diphtheria?, scarlatina 2. One case (fatal) of sporadic cholera was reported, occurring in a child. Typhoid fever has been extremely prevalent this autumn. The numbers given above are far from representing the actual numbers of those attacked. In seised instances two or more members of a honsenold suffered, and doubtless a large number of mild cases have remained unreported. The mortality, however, has been small. If reliance may bo placed upon the published vital statistics, only three cases have proved fatal within the borough of Christchureh during the quarter. The cases have been very generally distributed and no particular district seems to have suffered more than another. In very few cases could any evident local cause bo traced. It seems hardly necessary to report my opinion as to the causes of this endemic fever.

Absence of drainage, cesspits, and rubbish holes, defective water supply and their consequences, a poisoned subsoil, a prolonged drought has rendered them somces of disease unusually operative. The level of the artesian wells has fallen to such an extent that ditches which have acted as sewers for years have been laid dry. The ground water sinking in consequence of the drought, increased evaporation lias ensued from tho contaminated subsoil, and as this condition exists everywhere, no efforts at private cleanliness can offer much protection against tho disease.

The fever continued this year unusually late in tho season, hut the fortnightly return will show that it is now rapidly declining, Diptheria and diptheretic sore throats prevailed towards the end of the quarter, becoming almost epidemic in April, but it has now again declined. No deaths occurred during the quarter from thi s cause in the borough of Christchurch. Scarlatina One death occurred in the borough during the month of February. The few cases reported have been generally of a very mild type. Dysentery and diarrhoea were very prevalent amengst children during the first two months, cansing a high mortality. A large proportion of these cases are unquestionably of a typhoid character.

1 have, &0., Llewellyn Powell, M.D., Health Officer.

The report was adopted. WOBK ON DBAINAGE. On the motion of Mr Hobbs, it was resolved to obtain a copy of the work lately published, entitled, “ Digest of the Law of Public Health and Local Government.” ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment, after which the Board adjourned.