Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg.

Johannesburg (South Africa)

Date:: [1920]

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg. Source: Wellcome Collection.

24/46 (page 20)

M.O.H. 1919-20. Itch. Bacterio¬ logical Diagnosis. Disinfecting Station. Iii the Medical Officer of Health’s Report for 1916-19, page 28, the question of the suggested common bacterial origin of this disease, of epidemic influenza and of infantile paralysis is discussed. Prof. Boyd, of Manitoba University, considers, however, as the result of careful local inquiry into a serious outbreak of encephalitis lethargica at Winnipeg in October-November, 1919, that this alleged relationship is “ more apparent than real.” He further records that in the early part of this outbreak a most remarkable prevalence of persistent hiccoughing occurred in Winnipeg and the neighbouring towns. One of the numerous cases (a medical man) kept hiccoughing at an interval of about a minute for five days. An attack usually lasted from 24 to 48 hours, but yielded readily to a single injection of morphine.—(Br. Med. JL, 16/41 mi, p. 572.) ITCH (SCABIES). In June, 1920, the Medical Officer of Health learned that some 60 cases of itch existed at an orphanage for 700 children. Combating this outbreak involved considerable trouble, but with the keen co-operation of Hr. Cluver, it was tackled with notable success on the lines specified in the English Local Government Board Memo. G 14, Sell. 17 of 2/192.1, p. 8. All obviously infested children were promptly segregated and treated (see below) in two cottages; and, in each of the other cottages and wards, each remaining inmate was well bathed and medically examined daily, all clothing being simultaneously disinfected, at first by .steam at 205° F. for 15 minutes, later (and preferably) by dry heat of 145° E. for 10 minutes. The treatment prescribed for each of three successive days was as follows: — 1. Preliminary Path.—Patient to sit up to his neck for 20 minutes in a liot hath at 100° F. containing 2 ozs. washing soda to each 10 galls, water. The whole body, and particularly parts where itch-mite “ burrows ” most plentiful, or where skin hard, to be then thoroughly lathered with soft soap (1 oz. for child, 2 ozs. for adult). Soap to be then washed off and skin dried with clean towel. 2. Application of Sulphur Ointment (strength, 1 in 15).—The ointment to be thoroughly massaged into the skin for 20 minutes (1 oz. for child, 2 ozs. for adult), and clean or disinfected clothes put on. On the fourth clay, careful search to be made with a lens for the itch-mite and for unopened burrows. Should any be found, the whole treatment to be repeated, using Balsam of Peru or Beta Naplithol instead of sulphur in order to avoid causing inflammation of the skin. BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS. Tlie following are particulars of tlie specimens examined under this heading for the Town Council at the South African Institute for Medical Research during the years under review: — Disease Product. Positive. Negative. Doubtful. Typhoid 80 247 3 Tuberculosis — 1 — Diphtheria 141 357 5 Leprosy 2 2 — Anthrax — 1 — Tetanus — 1 — 223 (509 8 These figures do not include rats examined for suspected plague (v. p. 17). DISINFECTING STATION. This is tvell equipped with two Geneste-Herscher steam disinfectors, formalin chamber, baths for “ contacts,” and ambulance sheds.