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Venereal Diseases.
Fourteen specimens of blood were sent to the Lister Institute in
1921 by medical practitioners for the Wassermann (Syphilis) reaction.
Of these 14 specimens 2 proved positive, and 12 negative. Eleven of
the specimens were sent by the Medical Officer of the Ante-Natal Clinic,
49, Sydney-street; and the remaining 3 were sent by one other doctor.
One specimen of pus was sent from the Ante-Natal Clinic to be examined
for the gonococcus—the result being negative. The facilities afforded
for the diagnosis of Venereal Disease are being better utilised than
formerly; but, so far, the Ante-Natal Clinic is the only institution that
has made effective use of the Borough Council's scheme.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
Of the 400 samples taken for analysis in 1921, 151 were milk, 148
being genuine and 8 adulterated, equivalent to 2.0 per cent. of the total
milks examined, as against 4.1 per cent. in 1920, 3.7 in 1919, 13.8 in 1918,
8.1 in 1917, and 6.0 in 1916. Of the three adulterated samples, proceedings
were taken in 2 cases, namely: 18.3 per cent. of fat abstracted,
vendor fined £2 2s. as costs; 13.3 per cent. of fat abstracted, summons
dismissed on production of Warranty. In the other case the amount of
adulteration, 3.8 per cent. of added water, was considered insufficient for
legal proceedings.
The samples of other foods taken were all found to be genuine on
analysis: namely, condensed milk, one sample; butter, 81 samples;
margarine, 36 samples; lard, 27 samples; flour, 18 samples; coffee,
25 samples; coffee-mixtures, 2 samples; cocoa, 9 samples; baking
powder, 9 samples; cornflour, 9 samples; pepper, 13 samples; oatmeal,
5 samples ; sago, 5 samples; and vinegar, 9 samples.
Housing of the Working Classes.
Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, Section 28.
During the year 1921 notices under this Section were served upon
the owners of six houses to execute such works as may be necessary to
make the houses in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation,
as follows :—