THE HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2205, 21 March 1881, Page 3

THE HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT.

TO THB KDITOB OF THB PBBSB. Sib—With your, permission I intond to traverse the most salient points in this very extraordinary document that exercises the members of the Board so greatly. I dispense with the statistics in the report, as they are regularly published by Registrars, and any schoolboy can issue a comparison—a comparison by no means of any scientific value — between the " old " and " young " country. Our authority observes that our magnificent artesian water is gradually failing, and that nothing has been done in the way of supplementing it. He further adds that houses are oontinually being built on made ground, &3. Now, sir, this is a gross instance of plagiarism. I have only to refer to a letter of mine published in this paper, under date Maroh 20th, 1880, in whioh I said that " a great oause of unhealthinees in Chriotchuroh and its surroundings is the practice of constructing houses on such low levels, some in aotual swamps, as is prevalent; and that a law ought to be enacted by which none should be built below a stipulated height from the ground." Again, I pointed out that "the Board, by their influence and sympathy, oould assist in procuring that one great desideratum towards the public health, viz., a good water supply." " I affirm, without fear of contradiction, that a good supply of pure, wholesome water, would serve more to mitigate diseases than all the present fiddling after mares' nests for the causes thereof." "We are all aware that the flow of artesian wells is failing, and that it is a matter of for the inhabitants generally to sink into the lower strata, &o." In this letter of Maroh 20th, 1880, I thoroughly upset the Health Officer's report, and pointed out the unscientific and unsanitary value of his report. The Health Officer then proceeds to the subject of reporting infectious diseases, and quotes the Edinburgh and Dublin olauses. But why does he not go further, and acquaint the Board that the Edinburgh Act especially enacts that, as a sine qua non, a Health Officer should be a gentleman independent of his private practice, of known ability, of scientific training, and one respected by the profession ? The health officer wishes and is aiming at legislation for the purpose of compelling medical men to report cases, and concludes this portion of his report by the remark that he feels certain " that this is a popular method with medical practitioners, and no reasonable man oould object to it." The health officer, with his usual shortsightedness, has here again made a terrible blunder. If he is not aware of the fact, allow me to tell him that no amount of legislation can and will oompal medical men to trust their patients, private families, and themselves to the interference of a health officer in whom they have no confidence. How oan legislation over-ride the courteous and voluntary system of reporting to which respectable medical men consent ? Ard how has the health officer used their confidence ? Ton sought their cooperation ; they granted it, although you were npt on friendly terms with many of them. How did the health officer return the compliment ? Well might I exclaim with a member of the profession, yon "hare forfeited their confidence;" and at your door, Mr Health Officer, lies the onus of the result. The want of disinfecting apparatus, and wards for infectious diseases, is a matter of time and money, and no man is fool enough to question the necessity. The old story of spread of contagion from sohool children is only one source of spreading disease. Since. I pointed out in my letter that he was " ignoring the constitutional, etiologio, and climatic'oonditions of diseases," he awakens to the notion that typhoid fever is "unquestionably an endemic amongst us for whioh there did not exist any apparent cause." Bat he alludes to the connection at Avonside to the milky origin. This is the memorable Hatcly case, where tho health officer gave an opinion contrary to the medical attendant of the family. Of course whether this was contrary to honorable professional etiqnette, or in any way justifiable or not, I leave the profession to determine. But it so happens thai the medical attendant was right in his diagnosis, and the gratuitous advice of the health officer was wrong. Clothed in a little brief authority, he sneers at the Eduoation Board. I should not be at all surprised if the sohool committee were to inform the health officer that in his inspection ha had made use of magnifying glasses, and given an exaggerated account of the want of cleanliness, &o. The Health Officer being also Public Vaooi* nator, takes the present unprofessional and unhandsome method of advertising himself. He, it has been stated, acts illegally every vaccination day. The Act states that vaooination shall be performed from 11 to 3. The Health Officer, it is reported, attends about half-an-hour, at a most inconvenient time in the day for the labouring classes, for whom the Act was framed. If he was in earnest for the welfare of the publio, he would not only attend according to the Act, but he would propose that publio vaccinators be appointed in any populous suburb. Now, with regard to the reoommendation that " at least four separate good-sized vesioles, or looal effeots equal to fonr, should be produced," shonld not he give credit to his brother professionals to gain the " local effeots equal to four " by those who vacoinate in one or two places in strict unison with all his other actions ? In his movement for the Hospital inquiry, as Health Offioer, it was stated that he " wished to get at that fellow Campbell." What other fellow, as Public Vaccinator, is he aiming at now ? I' have one suggestion to make, that the Health Officer in his next annual report can claim as h's own. Townships are arising on all sides. Let ths authoiities insist that each one shall have an open space allotted as a public square in form of lungs for the populace, to avoid over-orowding. Now, I ask, what does this wonderful report contain. The statistics already published by Registrars are elaborated. The extent of drainage and channelling is given, which is already familiar to the Board and the ratepayers. He has been proved to have been guilty of plagiarism, and has advertised himself as public vaccinator. All I can say is that the report is voluminous. No wonder the discussion is so long postponed. Mr Ross said, " that they are not competent to discuss the questions raised in this blessed report without the advioeof the Medical Officer," and I may be allowed to remark that they may keep on discussing it till the Greek Kalends, and then be as near to any practical results as when they first started. Yours, &c., Scibhcb, Maroh 16th, 1881.