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6
0.8, 59.9 and 0.66. This improvement, without further comment,
has unquestionably resulted from a more efficient Public Health
Service.
It is unnecessary to review the old ground which has been
elaborated upon during the past three years. Suffice it to repeat
that personal and municipal cleanliness, better hygienic conditions
in the home and workshop, and cleaner food, form the lines generally
along which further progress should be made.
It is of interest to note that the percentage of patients admitted
to hospital suffering from scarlet fever who developed complications
was 64.3, a figure generally accepted as affording a useful
index of the efficiency or otherwise of the isolation accommodation
of any district. Unfortunately a proportion of those complications
are of a more permanent character which may seriously handicap
the sufferer in after-life.
Attention was directed in my Report of last year, inter alia.
to the question of the sanitary collection and disposal of municipal
refuse, the facilities, etc., for the more efficient segregation and
treatment cf infectious disease, and, in connection with the School
Medical Service, more suitable premises for the work of the Jlinor
Ailments and other clinics, which need not be further dilated upon
now.
Much has been done since the end of 1923 to create a Public
Health and School Medical Service better fitted for the due preserve
tion of the life and health of the district, and, (although that effort
is still imperfect), some of it as may be seen has already begun to
bear fruit; and, personally, I shall feel that my labours have not
been altogether in vain if they have but the effect of affording my
successor a less arduous and difficult course than lias been mint
to follow.
I am, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
KERR SIMPSON,
Medical Officer of Health