BOARD OF HEALTH.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4204, 18 January 1879, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Friday, Januabt 17. The first meeting of the Board since the election of the Christchurch District Drainage Board, was held at noon. Present—Messrs Tancred, Hall, Duncan, Harmon, Boss, and Brown. On the motion of Mr Boss, seconded by Mr Duncan, Mr Harman was elected chairman for the ensuing year. * INSPECTOB'S RErOKT. This report.was read as follows :— I beg , to report as follows—l have again inspected the side channel on the south side of the South Town belt, and find it in very much worse condition than when I last reported. For years past this channel has been occasionally cleaned out by the Christchurch channel sweepers, and subsequently by the Sydenham Borough Council labor gang. I am now given to understand that instructions have

been given to the employes of both bodies not to clean oat this channel until farther orders. 2. Cases of typhoid fever have been reported from Papanui. I have inspected three. My attention was first drawn to the abominable stench arising from the North road side channel from the Papanni Hotel to the Sawyer's Arms Hotel. Four cases of typhoid fever have now been reported from premises fronting on this channel. I am now aware that concrete channelling is about to belaid, and it should be done without delay, as I find it is necessary to have"impervious channels laid on some premises which drain into this channel, but until the permanent levels are fixed, the requisite-notices cannot be served. 3. The notice served on Mr Smith to abate a, nuisance arising from the keeping of a large; number of pigs in a confined space has teen attended to. '. 4. The side ditches on St. Albans lane again require to be defined oat, the water-way (consisting largely of house sewage) being obstructed by grass and weeds. ♦Wm.'l'eaece, Chief Inspector of Nuisances. In connection with the first clause a letter was read from a resident of the South town belt (Mr A neon), complaining bitterly of the state of that locality. A similar letter was read at the last meeting, of the Sydenham Borongh Council. A letter was also read from Mr John

H. Fox on the same subject. -' , :. Tho Chairman said the nuisance was created by Sydenham, bat actually existed on the property of the city. Mr Boss said there could te no doubt that the present state of things was rery prejudicial to the pnblic health. ' After some discussion the matter was left in the hands of the cha'rman, to see the sanitary committees of the City Council and the Sydenham Borough Council, and if necessary to consult a solicitor. It was resolved to - forward a copy of the second clause to the Avon Boad Board. < ; It was resolved to refer, the last clause to the Drainage Board, with a request that the work should be done at once. This report aa a whole was then adopted.. MEDICAL OFFICEB'S BEPOBT. This report was re id aa follows :— "Worcester street, Cbrietchureh, - - January 16th, 1879.' To the Chairman of the Board of Health — Sir, —I have the honor to report that twenty-nine cases of infections disease have been reportedduring the "three montha terminating December 31st, 1878, viz.:—Typhoid, 15j scarlatina, 8; and diphtheria, 6. The cases of typhoid have been mostly of a mild type. No deaths occurred from this cause during October and November, but the statistics for December are not yet to hand. Of the fifteen -cases of typhoid fever, six were immigrants by the Hydaspes. Of these sir two; were sent to the hospital from the Immigration Barracks immediately on landinjf; one was admitted to the hospital two. days afterwards; one was admitted subsequently, having been taa situation meanwhile. She Has since died. One wasreported on the 19th' November, at the house of a friend at Papanui. ■; She -was suffering irom a severe attack, and was ill when ahe landed., One was reported on December 10th, haviog also been ill since the" time she landed. In addition to these, a case was reported and seen by mc on January Sth. She died the came day. She had been ailing snice she'landed, hut some doubt may be allowed to.

attach to this case. The husband and daughter at the last case were admitted to hospital suffering:, from typhoid on. January sth. Two girls were detained at the barracks betwetm two and three weeks after their arrival, owing to their debilitated condition, consequent apparently on mild typhoid. These are the only cases tha*. have coiuo under my notice, but it is probable that other mild cases have remained unreported. I think that the attention of the authorities should be drawn to the fact that some of the immigrants per Hydaspes were suffering? at the time of landing from typhoid fever, with a view ot having the circumstances of the case investigated. Of the remaining cases three occurred in Christchuich, two in Sydenham, two at.Papanui, one Ferry road, and one at Biccarton. I beg again to direct attention to the fact that there are over a thousand cesspits in Christchurch. We cannot hope to get rid of zymotic disease e» long as the excreta of a large proportion of the population are allowed to drain into the porous subsoil., In a previous report I pointed out the dangers incurred by the want of proper precautions against the dissemination of typhoid fever, through the means cf the closets of hotels and public-houses. There- should be a regular supervision of all such public closets, to ensure their being emptied with sufficient frequency. I think that the use 01 dry earth should bo compulsory. ■ The cases of dipthheria have mostly been mild. Two deaths, however, have occurred from this cause—one at Addington, and one at the Styx. One death occurred in October from scarlatina.

The other cases have mostly teen mild. The health of Ohristchuroh has been, on the whole, rery satisfactory duriniy the past year.. The mortality haa been low, the cases of zymotic disease few and sporadic." The rery dry summer'" has ?been followed, as might be expected, by mnch. diarrhoea, especially amongst children. The aroonnt of typhoid fever seems, so far, to be small. It is, however, daring the auttimn.tliat this diaease is moat prevalent. I have the honour to be. Sir, Yours obediently, LtEWEXXTS POWEIX, He«lth Officer. Dr. Powell asked if it was possible he could bo supplied with, the vital statistics. Hβ had to apply to the City Council for them. It was resolved to apply to the Government that a copy of the " Gazette " might be supplied to Dr. Powell, as Health Officer of the district. , Dr. Powell said the important question was how the typhoid arose on board of the Hydaspea and other vessels. There most be something wrong in the water or somewhere. Mr Tancred said he had seen in the account of the arrival of one vessel that one of the passengers had gone on board with typhoid in England. Mr Brown suggested that Dr. Powell should draw up a special report to be forwarded to the . GoTeroznent. A motion to this effect was moved* and agreed to. Dr. Powell said" he believed that some correspondence was now going on between the immigration officer and the Government on the subject. . • r It was resolved that a copy of the clause ia relation to earth closets should be sent to the CftyConncO. Dr. PoweD it was a fact thai diphtheria was more prevalent in suburban than in urban districts. It was a. fact that had not been satisfactorily explained. In'reference to Lytteifcon street, he u\i«ht. stale that it a ewe, bot be pported on it

as he understood that the City Council were taking steps to improve it. It was a disgrace that such a street, only a few feet wide, should exist in Christchurch. Although he had not reported upon it he would keep his eye upon it. The report as a whole was then adopted. COXTAGIOUS DISEASES. Mr Gordon, the secretary, stated that 5 cases of typhoid, ? of scarlatina, and 1 of diphtheria had been reported since the last meeting. rxrsns oy thb board. The Chairman asked if the Board shonld obtain their funds the same way as they had done last year. Mr Duncan thought they should consider the matter at the next meeting, and ask the Drainage Board for an imprest of a couple of hundred pounds. In fact, he would then move that the chairman should make such application at the next meeting of the Drainage Board. The motion was seconded and agreed to.