PROVIDENCE AND NEWMARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 288, 3 December 1907, Page 7

PROVIDENCE AND NEWMARKET.

SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS.

Dr. Purdr, district health officer. wrote to the Newmarket Borough Council last evening on the subject of the lealth of the district. He said that, whilst conscious of the futility of getting niucli information by collecting statistics in a population not running in:te sis figures, it was satisfactory to note that "Providence had been kind to Newmarket. : ' He trusted that the same Providence would vouchsafe similar protection in the future, aided by the marked improvement in the sanitary control as evinced by the zeal for reform. He thanked the Council for its measures, and hoped that soon it would w tlie model borough for the district. The writer enclosed statistics as to tie health of the borough. Comparing Newmarket with Auckland, the following figures showed the case-rate per 1000 of population, taking the mean population for the past six years: — Enteric. Newmarket .ti and Auckland 1.5; Karlet fever. 2.20 and 2.03 respectively: diphtheria. .75 and .90; tuberculosis, .6 s »d .7: blood-poisoning. .23 and .30. The notification of infectious diseases for the past six years from the NewMarket Borough, with a mean population of 2201, had been as follows:— Enteric 8. scarlet fever 2!). diphtheria lp, tuberculosis S. l>lood|-oisouiiig 3. The corresponding figures for Devonport, with a mean population of 4850 ; tad been:—Enteric 16, scarlet fever 44. Oiphthsria 18. tuberculosis 20. bloodpoisoning 3. As. however, 14 cases ox ejttaic occurred before the completion of vie sewerage installation, it was a fair «mipariion to mala- that a drained and ia "iy sanitary district had but two "WS of enteric- in a population twice tkt of Newmarket. Councillor Holmes said that it did not appear that Dr. J'urdvV sweeping asser"oa that Xewmark.'l was the dirtiest P-ace in creation, hail been borne out. *«• Purdy had not complied with his 'quest for statistic- of ail the surroundf2 boroughs. In fact. Dr. Purdv bad the only borough with a "fairly tncient drainage. Whore, he asked, p re the statistics of Ponsonby. Grey Wai, Mt. Eden, and others? 'He did ™} .think Dr. Purdy was justiiied hi his assertion", •"e letter was formally received.