[Report 1907] / Medical Officer of Health, Canterbury Borough / City & County.

  • Canterbury (England). City & County Council.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1907] / Medical Officer of Health, Canterbury Borough / City & County. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Enteric Fever.—10 cases of this disease were reported ; 4 of them were treated at the Sanatorium, two at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, and 4 at home. 3 were imported ; 1 being a visitor from Philadelphia who was unwell on the voyage, 1 from Dudley, anl the other from Whitstable, both inmates of the Hospital. In three cases there were no sanitary defects, and the cause was difficult to trace, the patients having been away from home. Drinking polluted water was assigned to one case, another was that of a bricklayer who inhaled sewer gas whilst altering drains, another was a mild case and there was a slight defect in the drains, and the other was a doubtful case. It having been usual to have cases of typhoid amongst the Canterbury children after attending the school treats at Whitstable, caused by eating stale shell fish— cockles and mussels—picked up from the beach, the attention of the school Managers was called to this dangerous practice. They kindly co-operated, and besides advising the children in their respective schools, printed a caution on the tickets of invitation. These steps were very successful, as during the year there was no case attributable to this cause. Last year there were five. Scarlet Fever.—There were 58 cases. Treated at Sanatorium, 52 ; Military Hospital, 2 ; at home, 4. Of these 21 occurred in the Dane John Ward, 19 in the Westgate Ward, and Northgate Ward 18, including 7 trom the Barracks, 3 from the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, and a nurse at the Sanatorium. 5 houses (including the Hospital) had 3 cases each, 6 2 cases each, and 31 single cases. The source of infection was traced in 25 instances, 24 not traced, 5 were im- ported (Edinburgh, London, Wingham, Blean, and Ashford), infecting 7 other persons, and an outbreak at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital accounted for 5 cases. A strong letter of caution was sent to a parent who had failed to notify. I Diphtheria.—There were 51 cases notified, 23 from the Dane John Ward, 16 from the Northgate Ward, and 12 thej Westgate War'd. 40 of these cases were removed to the Sanatorium, and 11 treated at home. The principal sources of infection appeared to be St. Paul's Schools, 9, and St. Dunstan’s Schools, 7, whilst 3 cases came from one hop garden, and 2 from another, the former probably being polluted water. Four were due to remaining near stopped drains whilst being cleared, and one inhaling bad smells from sewage. Another from drinking polluted water. 8 were due to infection, in- cluding a nurse at the Sanatorium. In 5 cases sanitary defects were found, 11 the cause not traced, and 1 was imported. Among the parents of the patients were a tailor, schoolmaster, baker, cowman, laundryman, and a milkman. Necessary precautions were taken to prevent the spread of infection, in some instances the men were not allowed to follow their employ- ment for a certain period. An outbreak in schools is often preceded by cases of sore throat, not obviously of a diphtheriatic nature. Any child away from school suffering with sore throat, the Head Master or Mistress should notify to the Medical Officer of Health, who will take immediate steps to see if it is infectious. This disease is often conveyed from child to child by school appliances used first by one and then by another, such as slates (cleaned with spittle), penholders and pencils (which are apt to be sucked and chewed), and drinking vessels used in common. Steps should be taken to avoid such danger. Erysipelas notifications numbered 16, principally facial, and 2 of them arising from wounds in the leg. Puerperal Fever.—Only 1 case reported. Sanatorium.—The number of cases admitted into the Sanatorium during the year 1907 was 96 (six more than last year), viz. : 50 cases of scarlet fever, with one death ; diphtheria 41, with only 2 deaths, enteric fever 4 cases ; and measles 1. The Sanatorium was opened on the 29th of November, 1897, and on the 31st of January, 1907, 1,000 cases had been admitted, viz.: 753 cases of scarlet fever, with 9 deaths ; 21 cases of small-pox, with 2 deaths ; 57 cases of typhoid fever, with 5 deaths ; 164 cases of diphtheria, with 14 deaths ; and 5 cases of measles. There were 30 deaths in all, giving a mortality of 3'3 per 1,000. Cottage Property.—For many years there has been a difficulty in effectually dealing with the poorer class of house property in Canterbury. Much of it is old, and therefore easily becomes dilapidated. The rents, however, are cheap. If condemned there was no place for the poor to go to. At the present time, through unemployment, the demand for cottages is not so great as hitherto, so that there is a better opportunity to deal with the question than there has been hitherto. If the Government’s promised legislation is passed giving Local Authorties power to borrow money at a low rate of interest to build suitable dwellings for the labouring classes much of the undesirable property in the City could be dealt with. Eleven Schools have been closed for short periods owing to outbreaks of infectious diseases, principally measles, whooping cough, and mumps. Bakehouses.—I have made two inspections during the year and with one or two exceptions found them satisfactory. Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops.—I have inspected these, and, where necessary, have given instruction as to drainage, cleaning, and ventilation. The new bye-law affecting these are now.in full force, and in nearly all cases provision has been made for 800 cubic feet space for each cow. Factories’ and Workshops’ Acts.—Extra attention has been given to the carrying out of these Acts, with the result of a marked improvement in the sanitary condition of the premises under inspection. The number of Workshops, etc., on register is 292, made up as follows :—Factories, 35 ; Workshops (including 52 Bake Houses, three of them underground), 202 ; and Work places, 55. List of outworkers received half-yearly from employers, 19 ; the number of hands working at home being 73 ; 68 of them in the tailoring ti-ade, four sack makers, and 1 upholsteress. There are therefore 365 places under inspection, and these have been all visited by myself and the Sanitary Inspector, and wdth respect to Bake Houses twice during the year. Fifty-four sanitary defects were pointed out. Three persons connected with laundries, two with bake houses, and one tailoring were prevented from carrying on their avocations owing to infectious diseases in their homes. Sale of Food and Drugs Act.—Mr. Sidney Harvey, the City Analyst, has kindly furnished me with his Annual Eenort. 188 analyses executed in 1907. Under the Food and Drugs Act 107 samples were taken, as follows ; Arrowroot 3, Bread 3, Baking Pow'der 7, Butter 20, Cream of Tartar 1, Coffee 4, Camphorated Oil 3, Flour 3, Milk 48, Mustard 2, Pepper 2, Spirits of Nitre 4, Tartaric Acid 3, and Vinegar 3, Whiskey 1. Three samples were returned as adulterated, viz.: 1 sample of Milk was deficient in fat, 1 sample of Sweet Spirits of Nitre was deficient in Ethyl Nitrite, and 1 sample of Tartaric Acid was impregnated with a prohibited amount of Lead. The remaining 104 samples passed as genuine. For the Local Board.— Fifty five samples, as follow's : Water 28, Sewage Effluents and Surface Waters 26, Disinfectant Powder 1. Of the Waters, 12 samples were from the Public Supply, and were, as usual, very pure organically and free from sewage percolation. Eight samples were polluted more or less, 1 of them slightly, and a sample of this was recommended to be taken again after a short interval. 8 samples passed as being free from contamination. The sample of Disinfectant Powder w-as of good quality and above the specified strength. Under the Fertilizers and Feeding Stuffs Act of 1906.—27 samples, as follows : Fertil- izers 23, Feeding Stuffs 4. Drainage.—The City Surveyor (Mr. A. C. Turley) has kindly forwarded me the following report, viz. ;—The following new Surface-Water Drains and Foul Sewers were laid during the past year, viz. :— 294 yards of 9in. Foul Sewer in Old Dover Eoad. 300 ,, 12in. ,, Northgate Street (re-laying). 120 ,, 6in. Surface-Water Drain in St. Stephen’s Eoad. 65 ,, 6in. ,, ,, Zealand Terrace. Water Supply.—The number of houses connected with the Company’s Main during the past year was 38. The analyses made of the water shews it to be, as usual, pure and continuous. I am, Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, FEANK WACHEE, Medical Officer of Health, Monastery House, Canterbury,