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15
Table 0* of the Appendix will indicate the work which was performed
during the year in consequence of cases of Zymotic diseases which were
notified.
It must be remembered that for the chief diseases in this class every
case calls for complete investigation; forwarding a notice to the Asylums'
Board where removal is wished for; sending a notice to the head teacher
of the School where children from the infected house attend; serving a
sanitary notice for cleansing of the room which the patient occupied, after
disinfection has taken place; removal of bedding, clothing, &c., to the
disinfecting apparatus, and returning the same; and attending to the
general improvement in sanitation, &c., where required.
As a matter of routine work, every system of house drainage is tested
after a case of infectious disease.
The disinfecting apparatus has proved most serviceable during the year,
and the passage of superheated steam through articles which have been
exposed to infection no doubt has done much to prevent a larger number
of cases of disease than is here recorded.
As a matter germane to public health I would express satisfaction with
the works carried on at the Destructor Yard, associated as they are with
the systematic removal and destruction of all house refuse. The pail
system has been now so far extended that practically a daily collection of
refuse takes place. Your Engineer and Surveyor will probably report
upon the general work, so far as "dusting and slopping" is concerned,
therefore it would be superfluous to enlarge upon the subject in this
Report.
You have added another public convenience during the year to the two
which were already in use. These are all working satisfactorily, and are
movements in the right direction.
Your Inspectors have been most energetic in improving the drainage
of the houses within the District. I find that 655 drains have been
altered, improved, or re-constructed during the year. Generally the
existing frontage into the sewer suffices, but it was necessary that 34 new
frontages should be inserted. "Combined drainage," which has been
discussed ad nauseam, at your meetings, has been a burning question in
some cases, but difficulties which might have been troublesome have been
removed by the kindly feeling which exists between Owners of property
aud your Officers. During the past 3 years no fewer than 2,061 drainage
improvements have been effected, and it requires no assurance from me to
convince you of the important effect which has thus been produced upon
the conditions which are requisite for health within those bouses which
have been so improved. I am glad to know that your Engineer and
Purveyor, Mr. J. Paget Waddington, proposes to introduce many improvements,
so far as the general sewers of the District which are under your
control are concerned.
I am hoping now soon to see issued from the Surveyor's Office a new
map of the District; so many changes have taken place since the last
issue that the existing map has become ob jolete.
Old Age Deaths.
The number of persons who died after the age of 80 amounted to 46,
of these 15 were men and 31 were women. Between the ages of 80 and
85, there were registered 24 deaths; 13 between the ages of 85 and 90;
and 9 over the age of 90. One man lived to the age of 95, and one
woman to the age of 97. Nearly all the deaths were due to "Old Age"
and " Bronchitis."
* Page 42.