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Coincident with this change in death-rate, our Infectious Sickness
Rate has also improved.
In spite of occasional outbreaks of Scarlet Fever, the large numbers
of school children in our midst and our limited Isolation Hospital
accommodation, Infectious Diseases in 1908 were considerably less than
in the preceding year, and a rate of 7.7 per 1,000 of the population
compares most favourably with 95 for 1907, and 10.5 for previous
years.
Extended and fuller powers have been acquired within the year by
the adoption of the Public Health Act Amendment Act of 1907, and
under Section 13 of the Education (Administration Provisions) Act,
medical inspection of school children has been in operation since
November.
As the Education Act of 1907 carried with it no compulsory powers
of examination, those given under Section 122 of the Children's Act,
1908, will be welcomed for the power granted to deal with verminous
conditions.
The promised legislation to cover Town and House Planning, the
Regulation, Production and Sale of Milk, and the Notification of
Phthisis, if effected, will still further strengthen the hands of Sanitary
Authorities in dealing with many well-known conditions inimical to the
health of the people.
Both recent and promised legislation indicates that public opinion has
undergone a great change in the methods of coping with the problems
of Public Health, and attention now becomes rightly centred on the
personal unit, rather than as heretofore upon the impersonal factor.
The School Doctor and Nurse now hold a prominent position in the
work of Public Health, and the Health Visitor will in time, by her influence,
gradually replace the Nuisance Inspector, and by the education
of the people, leave but little work for that officer.
During the year considerable changes have occurred in the staff, and
the accommodation at the Annexe improved, but much remains that is
unsatisfactory.
Dr. Hall has no room either for Bacteriological or clerical work; the
general office is overcrowded, and with the work done in connection
with our schools, two other rooms at least are necessary.