PUBLIC HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1916, Page 6

PUBLIC HEALTH.

CONDITIONS IN NORTH TARANAKI. LM-KCTIOCS DISEASES FOB PAST MONTH. At the meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday, the health inspector (Mr. A. 11. Kendall) reported that in the past month he had visaed on two occasions Pihama and Opiuiakc: also Waitara, Upland ro.vl, Rahotu, Inglewood, Carrington road, Tikoranvi, Okato, Te Kiri and IParihaka, and Boil Block on several occasions, The report proceeded:—"During the month thirty-nine cases of infectious disease, including two cases of scarlet fever, twenty-six eases of diphtheria, one ease of enteric, and ten cases of infantile paralysis, were notified as follows; One case of scarlet fever in the Taranaki county, at Bell Block, and-one ease in the Egmont county, at Pihama; five cases of diphtheria in the Taranaki county, sixteen in New Plymouth, four in Waitara, and one in' the Clifton county; one case of enteric at New Plymouth; two cases of infantile paralysis in the Taranaki county, three in Now Plymouth, one in Inglewood. three in the Egmont county, and one from Awakino. With regard to infantile paralysis, three cases were treated at the patients' own homes, and seven in the hospital, two of these eases, unfortunately, ending fatally. "Forty-one premises where infectious disease had existed were disinfected by me during the month, and including three premises at IParihaka, and in addition, to assistance given in the matter of disinfecting a portion of the Boys' High School at New Plymouth and the Convent School at Waitara. I have made the fullest possible investigations into all cases of infectious disease notified and particularly with regard to infantile paralysis, and the ease of typhoid in New Plymouth, the origin of which is at present a mystery, beyond the fact that the locality in which it occurred is greatly in need of proper water supply and drainage. "During the month Dr. Sydney Smith, the District Health visited the district and made careful examination of the conditions existing in the borough of New Plymouth, and has reported thereon to the Borough Council, and also on the subject of proposed improvements in the sanitary administration of the borough. Special efforts have been made by the borough authorities and sanitary inspector (Mr. Day), in the matter of disinfecting and fumigating the various public buildings in New Plymouth, while Mr. Moore and the Education Board's staff have been very busy thoroughly cleansing and disinfecting the larger State schools in the district, and tho cleansing of others werejaken in hand by the various committees. Two prosecutions for short-weight bread were heard during the month, and resulted in fines and costs in each case."