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Those women expecting immediate Confinement have
been removed to Maternity Homes, excepting several who declined
to go. Ordinary sick cases are being dealt with in various ways—
some have been admitted to hospital, some have gone to friends,
others have been moved to other quarters, etc.
As regard Coal, all cases with special circumstances, e.g.,
illness in the house, etc., have precedence on the list for the
delivery of coal.
In regard to Beds, many of these, as above indicated, have
been saturated, and a very considerable number have been rendered
practically useless. Arrangements are being made to supply
fresh beds, where necessary. Owing to the fact that stocks are
not locally available, and are everywhere in demand at present, a
few days may elapse before this work can be completed: nevertheless,
special consideration is being given to the worst cases, and a
few of these beds have already been delivered. It will, however,
take months and not days before anything like a dry condition
can be expected in many of the affected homes.
It must be appreciated that though the individual affected
persons have to receive every possible consideration, and are
receiving such, there is in front of the Public Health Authority
another matter requiring consideration, and that is the menace
to the health of the whole community from the possibility of
widespread infection from illness which may arise in the affected
areas. Many of the houses have been flooded with water contaminated
with sewage and all manner of offal, many others have
had their drains rendered quite useless. Though I do not anticipate
such an epidemic, all steps are being taken to, as far as practicable,
counteract such an eventuality, the possibility of which
must not be lost sight of.
I can give the assurance that al* members of the Public Health
Department are fully alive to the distress which this disaster has
caused, and are working whole-heartedly in their endeavour to
render all possible assistance.
F. GARLAND COLLINS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Committee, 12th January, 1928.
FLOODING.
(i) That the Medical Officer of Health supplemented his
report of the 10th instant, and outlined what further steps he had
taken in the matter, particularly with regard to the supply of
mattresses and disinfectant and the condition of the floors, etc., of
the flooded houses. He also submitted the following figures:—
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