THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1882. DR. DOYLE AS A SANITARY REFORMER.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2483, 22 March 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1882. DR. DOYLE AS A SANITARY REFORMER.

We endeavoured in some of our recent articles on the subject of the proposed revocation of the powers granted to the City Council to get at some reason why this should be so. After a careful study of Dr. Doyle’s speech the mystery grew still more dense, and it is only when we cornu to read, as it were, between the lines by the light of a recent case in the Magistrate’s Court that wo begin to eoe why the movement was started. In that, as our readers are no doubt by this time aware, Dr. Doyle appeared in a dual character. No one who read his speech on the' question at the meeting of tha Board of Health could fail to recognise in his impassioned utterances on the matter of sanitary science, the enthusiasm of a reformer, one whose ardent desire it is to sea carried into effect the properly stringent laws regarding sanitary matters. For this reason, and this alone, he abandoned the cool shades of respectability in which he had hitherto been secluded, to offer to a grateful public the vast stores of his knowledge on sanitary matters. With a charming candour which does him credit, Dr. Doyle at once confesses his entire ignorance of drainage matters. But on matters affecting the public health he is strong, reminding ns’ of tha anecdote of the American confrere of onr friend, who, on being called to a case which was urgent, said that he was not anything on that disease, but that when the patient had fits he might be sent for, as he was a whale on fits. So with Dr. Doyle. If there is one thing more than another in which—according to his own statement—he excels, it is sanitary reform. There is on record, both in ancient and modern history, the fact that enthusiasts in various matters have had to contend with the opposition and vilification of those in power. So with Dr. Doyle in these later days. Ho has in full operation on premises situate in a thickly populated portion of the city, where the experiment could have a fair chance, a contrivance in the interests of sanitary science for promoting the health of (he neighborhood. Consistent with his oratorical utterances he is endeavouring to give the residents in the immediate vicinity of the premises owned by him, a practical proof of the valuable services they have secured by his election as a member of tho Drainage Board. It is true that the proprietor of one of the leading hotels in tho city, Mr J. Oram Sheppard, a gentleman whose name deserves to be handed down to posterity, had after a fashion tried the same experiment with partial success in another part of the city. But the difference between the two was jnst that of tho amateur and tho professional, and certainly Dr. Doyle is not to be robbed by Mr J. O. Sheppard of (ho credit of having been the introducer into this city of tha latest system of preserving tho public health in towns. It is sad to have to relate tho fact as showing the density of tho magisterial mind, and the utter incapacity to grasp so important an advance in sanitary science as that projected by Dr. Doyle, that they actually fined him ss, and ordered tho experiment to bo brought to a conclusion. Wo feel sure that Dr. Doyle has the hearty sympathy of the public under these very distressing circumstances, particularly when it is noted that the chief mover in this crusado against scientific development is no less than tho City Council, whose delinquencies in tho matter of utter neglect of the sanitary condition of tho city have been so crushingly and convincingly exposed and dilated upon by Dr. Doyle in his remarkable speech. What could bo clearer than that this persecution is tho outcome of vindictive feelings. And yet an

experiment of great scientific value, ss tending to show what amount of fever producing matter can be placed in the city side channels without detriment to the public health, has had to he aban■doned on account of tho blindness of ignorant officials, and Dr. Doyle, with his fellow martyr in the cause of science, Mr. J. O. Sheppard, will add yet another to the long list of those who have undergone persecution for the sake of the advancement of the scientific knowledge of the nation. After this exhibition of total incapacity on the part of the City Council to understand an experiment having for its object the demonstration of a great hygienic truth, the Board of Health will no doubt unanimously pass Dr. Doyle’s resolution to deprive them of all control over the health of the citizens of Christchurch, and place them in the hands of such scientists as Dr. Doyle, &c. The only regret is that Mr. J. Oram Sheppard is not also —iu view of the probable resumption of the powers by the Board of Health—a member of the Board, as, from his experieuce, he would be able to give most valuable assistance with his medical friend, in carrying out the sanitary regulations iu a proper manner. THE INSPECTION OF DAIRIES. So the truth is out at last respecting the Inspectorship of Dairies, and fully bears out tho comments we made at the time of the Order-in-Council on the subject being made. Tho Medical Officer of Health, who it is contemplated shall assume the position of Inspector of Dairies, would require, says the Chairman, to inspect all the dairies himself, and receive a salary of some £2OO or £250 per annum. Now, this is just what we objected to at the beginning. It is perfectly monstrous to think of expending the money of the ratepayers in this manner when it is quite unnecessary. As we pointed out in former articles, all that is required is that the Inspector of Nuisances shall, in his ordinary official rounds, also include the dairies. It is merely a question of cleanly surroundings, on which the Inspector is quite as good a judge as the Medical Officer. ~Were the whole College of Surgeons to turn out and test the milk supplied from any dairy, they could not discover the latent germs of typhoid in it. It is a matter of cleanliness and nothing else, and certainly for this we do not require a highly-paid medical man. We do not know what opinion is held by the members of the Board of Health on this subject, but we feel sure that the public, now that they have an opportunity of knowing what is thought about this matter, will raise their voice and protest against any such sum per annum as that mentioned being given. The rates now are heavy enough in all conscience, but if we go on adding highly-paid officers like this, the ratepayers will soon find that the whole of I the loan has gone in salaries.