BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2440, 31 January 1882, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Monday, Januahy 30. The ordinary meeting of the Local Board of Health was held at 3 p.m. Present— Messrs Vincent (in the chair), W. White, jun., Hubbard, L. Harper, S'. Jones, 8. Manning, A, Ashworth, and Dr. Doyle. The following report was read for the quarter ending 31et December, 1881 : Christchurch, January 25th, 1882. The Chairman Board of Health. Sir, —I have the honor to to sub r.it to you my report on the health of the district far the quarter ending December 31st, 18S1 : Tbe following are the numbers of the bonsobolders who reported cases of infections diseases for the three months : Typhoid Scarlet Fever. Diphtheria. Fever. Measles--10 25 10 33 Tbe cases are distributed thus : Christchurch 3* I 3 Sydenham ... 2 8 4 4 Avon ... 3 10 2 1 Heathcote ... 2 1 1 3 Riccarton ... 0 2 0 5 Spreydon ... 0 0 0 2 * One of these cases was reported from the Hospital, and was admitted from beyond the district. f Two 'of these cases were sent into tho Hospital from beyond tbe district. And according to tho months : Typhoid Scarlet Fever. Diphtheria. Fever. Measles. October ... 3 9 1 7 November... 2 8 3 14 December ... 5 8 6 13 Ihe numbers reported for the csrresponding months of 1880 were ; Typhoid Fever. Diptheria. Scarlet Fever. 39 10 11 The mortality from all causes within the city was perlOOO of the population monthly— OctolK-r, o.4SNovember, 1.05; December, 105. And for the corresponding three morths of 1880: October, 0.79; November, 0 8d; December, 1.32. In Sydenham the mortality was — October, 0.71; November. 1.30; December, 1.30 ; and for the corresponding period of IcfiO— October, 0.38; November, 1 CT; December, 0.64. These statistics snow a slight improvement in health for Christchurch, and a Jed no for Sydenham, when compared with those for tho corresponding quarter of ISSO. In sending in this first report to the newly elected Board. I believe I shall be occupying its time to tho best advantage by directing attention to tbe following suggestions : Firstly, with regard to dairies. As tho Order-in Council gives tbe Board power to supervise tho sale of midi so as to prevent its becoming a means for the spread of disease, it will be necessary to make regulations and issue instructions with as little delay as possible. I might mention that already the WV.fmsi i Council have issued their instructions for the conduct of dairies. In this district, milk is not bought from dairymen and thou stored in milk shops. I consider, therefore, that the first regulations issued by the Board should he principally directed towards requiring of every person seeking a license that his premises ho- kept clean ; that within a reasonable distance from Lis dairy there be an abundant supply of good water for washing milk pails, &c. ; that his clorets be provided with pans which are frequently emptied ; and that due care bo taken not to niiow any person suffering from an infectious disease, or one who has been recently in contact with infections disease to be in any way associated with the milk.

Secondly, with regard to infections disease**— As the amended t'ublic Health Act places the responsibility of reporting these cases open medical practitioners, I have no dontt that tkc Board will hecomo early acquainted with tho first cases in any outbreak. The Board, however, may be in possession of every scrap oE

information on this subject, and yet the know- | ledge in very many cases may be perfectly use- | lass so long as the district has no infectious | diseases hospital in which to carry out isolation, and no disinfecting chamber in which to destroy the genns of disease. Here, also, the Waimate people are in advance of us, as they have scoured from their County Council an infectious diseases hospital for the township. I would, therefore, suggest that the Selwyn County Council be asked to do as much for the Christchurch district. Smallpox, which has already threatened us with a visitation from Australia, has beau introduced into the country from another source, and there is no knowing but that it may spread throughout the colony. It therefore behoves the Board to know in what state the district is to resist an outbreak of this disease, and to prevent its spread. Quarantine regulations _ are by no means always successful, and it is to vaccination and re-vaccination we must look for protection from this loathsome and fatal complaint. £ hove frequently pointed oat that the largo numbers cf uavaccinated and imperfect'y vaccinated children attending the public schools are of themselves enough to make us dread the introduction of smallpox, and as I_ have been unsuccessful in my endeavors to induce the Government to place me in a position where I might act with efficiency, I have requested them to relieve me of the appointment of public vaccinator for the Christchurch district, and also to allow mo to publish the lengthy correspondence which I have had with them on the subject. Had my advice to the Government bean followed, there is not a single child attending any of the public schools, not merely of this district, but of the colony, who would not have by this time been vaccinated, or its parent or guardian had to answer before a Magistrate for disobedience cf the law. It is to bo regretted that the Government think “ it is not expedient to insist upon examining the children m schools (to ascertain if they have been vaccinated) in direct opposition to the will of the school committees,” for it appears that the 164th section of the Public Health Aot, which runs as follows, would give ample power—” That every child admitted to any school which shall be maintained in whole or in part by grant or from rates, cr any public funds, or by any endow, monta whatever —colonial, provincial, municipal, or district —shall bo vaccinated by a public vaccinator unless such child shall have been previously vaccinated.” I trust that the Board will move the Government in this of echool vaccination, and in the matter of gazetting an honr ia the evening for adult re-vaccination, for delay or apathy may bo attended with serious •onseqnences. Thirdly, with regard to statistics, until tho births and deaths in She different portions of the combined district are registered separately, as ia Christchurch, it will be impossible for me to furnish reliable returns. I hope, therefore, that the Board will again make application to the Government to carry out this reform. Fourthly, with regard to inspection, I trust that tho Board will see that regular and systematic inspection all over the district is carried out, and that the inspectors are instructed to place themselves move frequently in communication with the medical officer. Slaughter yards, bide and tallow depots, out-offices of hotels and pnblia institutions, gravel pits that are used as receptacles for refuse are nil liable to become public nuisances, more or loss sff cting health, and require close supervision. In Christchurch and the more populous portions of Sydenham the greatest care will have to be taken to prevent serious nuisances arising from defective closet pans, while every effort should be made in the rest of tho district to get rid of the highly dangerous cesspit. Accumulations of filth about dwellings must be prohibited. Dry house refuse should be placed in bins, thoroughly protected from rain and well ventilated, but on no account should broken meat and slops be shot into the same receptacle, especially in warm weather, as fermentation quickly sets in, and causfs a horrible nuisance. I think it necessary to draw attention to this subject, as the dustman’s cart within the past few days in paying its usual visit to my yard brought with it the hospital contribution, which, for down-right sickening stinks, baffles description. _ Suffice it to say, that tho whole of my domestics had to beat a haaty retreat, shut down the windows and c'oaa the doors, and leave tho dustman in undisputed possession, until I had to request bim to go at onco, without waiting to secure tho object of his visit. if such oversight can take place at a well- . ordered institution liko tho Christchurch Hospital, it shows not only how needful it is to have such accumulations removed with tho utmost frequency, but also how necessary it is tliat inspectors should take nothing for granted, but sea for themselves. I have, &0., Courtney Nedwill, Medical Officer cf Health. Mr Harper moved—“ That the portion of the report of the medical officer referring to public vaccination be forwarded by tho Board to the Government, with a request to bo informed as to the course the Government intend to pursue. The Board further strongly recommending tho Government to carry out tho suggestions of the health officer on the subject.” Mr F. Jonas seconded the motion, which was carried. With reference to tho regulation for inspection of dairies, The medical officer said he had received a oppy of the regulations issued at Waimate, which ho would hand to the Board. The regulations were read by the secretary. Mr Jones moved— 11 That tho medical officer and chairman bo requested to draw up the regulations for inspection of dairies under tho Aot, to report at next meeting of tho Board.” Mr Manning seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. Dr. Doyle moved—“ That tho Board communicate with the Selwyn County Council, and request them to mako a grant in aid of the erection of a hospital for infectious diseases and a disinfecting chamber,” After some discussion, Dr. Doyle withdrew his resolution, and it was resolved that the chairman of the Board communicate with the chairman of the Hospital Board on the subject, with a view to ascertain what course that body intended to take in the matter. Accounts to the amount of £46 15s were passed for payment. A letter was read from Mr King, stating that he was not in a populated district. He submitted that the plant he had provided was of the most efficient description, and was similar to that permitted in crowded cities. He had always endeavored to have any cause of complaint altered. From Mrs E. Wilson, calling attention to the bed state of the drain from the Eov. Mr Eishworth’a property. From the medical officer, staling that he had inspooled tho works for manufacturing manure at the nightsoil reserve, and was of opinion that they wore a nuisance. He also reported that the slaughter-house was not in a satisfactory condition.

The Chairman said that notice had been given in accordance with the medical officer’s report to tho man who had been making artificial manure to abate tho nuisance. With respect to Mr King’s letter it was decided to request the medical officer to inspect the works and report to the Board. Mrs Wilson’s letter was referred to the inspector. The Board then adjourned.