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31
Of the 54 deaths, 25 occurred between the ages of 25 and 65
years, a period of life when the individual ought to be of the greatest
use to the State.
During the year there have been 15 cases notified voluntarily
by medical practitioners. The houses of these patients, as well as
of those certified as suffering from this disease in the monthly returns
received from the Clerk to the Guardians, have been visited and
advice given to the inmates as to precautionary measures that
should be adopted. In several instances rooms have been disinfected
which have been previously occupied by patients suffering
from this disease, and in every instance where a death has been
registered as due to this disease, the rooms and articles liable to
retain infection have been disinfected, the bedding and such
like articles having been sent to Mogden for this purpose.
MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT THE SPREAD
OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
When a case of infectious disease is notified, as soon as
possible, the Medical Officer or Sanitary Inspector calls at the house
and investigates the possibility, or otherwise, of the case being
isolated at home. If the Medical Officer of Health considers it is
to the interest of the community that the patient should be removed
to the Isolation Hospital, advice to this effect is accordingly given.
If the patient remains at home, printed particulars as to isolation,
disinfection, &c., together with a short epitome of the law bearing
on the subject, are left at the house. During the period of illness
periodic visits are made by the Sanitary Inspector to see that the
instructions are being complied with. An addressed postcard is also
left for the medical attendant to sign and forward at the termination
of the illness, when he considers the house is ready for disinfection.
Full particulars of the patient and other occupants of the house,
number of rooms, condition of premises, milk supply and other
matters bearing on the possible origin of the disease are entered
on special printed forms and filed in the Health Office.