GISBORNE FEVER OUTBREAK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3831, 14 May 1913, Page 6

GISBORNE FEVER OUTBREAK.

REPORT OF DR. CHESSON

SERIES OF IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.

CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL.

At last evening’s meeting of the Borough Council the report of the District Health Officer, Dr. Chesson, on the outbreak of enteric fover in the Borough was read and discussed. The report .was in the following terms: — ‘•During my recent visit to your borough, I went carefully into the outbt'C.'l'h ail'd," though several theories have been Brought forward iss to the cause of the outbreak this year’, there is no evidence to support any one as being the particular cause. ‘‘The reason of the outbreak appears to me to be duo to the general unsatisfactory, state of the sanitation of the town, combined with the fact that there has been a particularly dry, hot summer; and it is a recognised fact that where disease is epidemic, as it is in and around Gisborne, after such a season there is generally an, increase in the number of cases. The cases have been scattered more or less all over the borough, but the great majority of them have, if not actually resident in, been connected' with tho central part of tho town and have partaken of food while there. I was, therefore, inclined to consider that this is the portion which requires particular attention.

The Fly Danger. “It is well-known that flics are carriers of this disease, and these abound in this part of the town. Sometime ago I called the attention of your Council to the insanitary condition of stables, at the s-ama time pointing out the dringer of tile fly nuisance aggravated by their presence. Improvements to the stables, though in progress, have not vet been fully completed, and I would' urge that work in connection therewith be hurried along. I have noticed in some instances that manure receptacles have been left open. This, of course, encourages flies to breed therein. I have been informed that the objection to closing tli'ese receptacles :s that when they arc opened the fumes therefrom are Very objectionable to the man emptying them. This can lie easily obviated bv the installation of a ventilating shaft from the tipper part of the interior of the bin carried up above the eaves oi the room, and 1 would 1 recommend that stable-keepers and others should bo required to do this. “The premises of the various confectioners and restaurant keepers have been found to lie badly fly-infested, and it is quite possible that infection might be carried this way. It is, therefore, essential that all premises wherein food is prepared or stored or exposed for sale—i.e., bake-houses, kitchens, shops, etc.—should ho protected against this scourge, and all windows and doors should therefore be made flv proof and maintained so. “In addition to this, all trays on which food is placed after coming out of the ovens Or other cooking places for conveyance to the shops, should he covered over with some material to keep all stray flics from alighting thereon. For this purpose v «ur Council should pass a by-law.

Sewerage Work. “The work in connection with the completion of your sewerage system and the connecting of all premises therewith should be hastened to its utmost, it being a marked fact that in many places where typhoid was particularly bad they have been rendered practically typhoid-free after the installation of an efficient sewerage system. In tho meantime every care should he exercised with regard to the condition of all privies and the care of the nightsoil depot. Any slackness in connection/ with this matter might vei’v well be the cause of an outbreak of the disease. “The matter of refuse removal also requires more attention, and I would recommend that more frequent removal of refuse be carried out, at least in tho more congested 1 part of the towii. I notice, too, that many of the urinals at present in the town, which have been erected under the old bylaws, are flushed by means of a tap directly connected with the water mains. Many of these taps, I notice, have been in a grossly polluted state. It is possible that during a period when tho water supply has been cut off for purposes o; repairs, connections, etc., that a negative pressure might arise with the consequence of sucking up any polluted matter should tho tap be open. This, of course, would be impcsisble under the new by-laws, which provide for the installation of a proper disconnecting flushing cistern. Plumbing generally cannot be too thoroughly carried out, and your present by-laws provide for good work being put in. I would urge that under no consideration whatever should any relaxation from your new by-laws be permitted, and that all existing plumbing within your borough should lift as speedily as possible brought into line with your new by-laws.

The Waikanae Drain. ‘•There is a drain running through your borough locally known- as the Waikanae drain. On previous occasions thiw lias been reported on as being insanitary, and I have recommended that work should be undertaken to pipe it through a great part of its course. lam strongl v of opinion that this should l be at once carried out, and tliat your Engineer should be requested to draw* up a scheme to deal with this matter. It is noteworthy that many cases of typhoid have occurred along the course of this drain. The Waikanae Greek is also a matter requiring attention. • It is practically dry -at low water, and receives a. considerable amount of drainage. The recd-groWn mud flats, undoubtedly polluted, are exposed' for a great part of the day. It is certainly desirable that this matter should he rectified and the mud flats reclaimed, thus reducing the width of the creek to its acual serviceable channel. It i« desirable that this channel should he concreted if funds are available for the purpose. It would no doubt be •an expensive matter, hut it will have to he faced sooner or later.

Sanitary Inspection. “I was pleased to note at the special meeting at which I was present that you; decided to give IJr Ferris some temporary additional assistance. Although. Inspector Ferris has not said anything to ms with regard to Ids duties, judging from mv own observations it seams to me that lie has too many duties to perform single-hand-ed, and- it is, remarkable that lie has been able to carry out these as successfully as he has. I would urge flint if a suitable man could he found to assist him he should he given permanent assistance. Too much care cannot he exercised in the supervision of sanitary matters.in your borough. “lii I would briefly recommend “(1) The sewerage he unshod on as fast as possible and all premises connected therewith. | “(2V The removal, of refuse bo more frequently carried out. “(31 The completion of improvements to stables be pushed forward. -“(4) By-laws dealing with the. fly ;

nuisance in connection with food stuff premises bo drafted. “(5) The new by-laws with rega *: to plumbing be put into force on all existing premises. “(6) Tho Waikanae drain receive immediate attention and that reclamation of tho mud flats of the Waikanae Creek also be taken n hanu. “(7) The Sanitary Inspector be given extra assistance.” Tho Engineer reported as follows: “With reference to tho application from Captain Thicker to fill in the Waikanae drain I have to recommend that this work be carried l out from Grey' Street to Peel Street. As this drain does not now take any street water the liability is, in my opinion, distinctly one for tho owners of tho sections to carry, and, provided always that the filling of tho drain does not blo'ck any water running off surrounding sections and thereby cause a nuisance to tho owners thereof, it would bo a good work to fill it in. If the applicant takes this liability, cithen by filling in all sections so that the stormwater can bo run. into the street channel, or, toy placing pipes in the o-kl drain in_ a proper approved manner before filling in, this work will bo a great benefit. This also applies to any portion of the Waikanae drain between Peel Street, and the l iver not already filled in. Hero the work becomes considerably _ more costly, and should, in my opinion, be piped and filled in gradually. “A report has been received from tho Health Inspector for the district on our present stables. The yard round the stables has been properly graded and cleaned up ami covered with screenings, but, no work has yet been done to tho floor of the stable. On this head I have to recommend that a covered 1 24 stall stable be erected in brick as soon as possible as the present stables are too small, and any work done on them will he, practically, money thrown away.” Mr Chas. H. Ferris, Sanitary Inspector, reported that the house to house inspection of the Borough ordered b the Sanitary Committee was proceeding. Up to the time of writing a total of 374 dwellings had been inspected and of those it would be necessary to inform 72 householders to either conform to the by-law or to dispose of their poultry. At several others it would be necessary to provide regulation receptacles for rubbish, while at others a lid was required for the receptacle in use. The other conditions as regards drainage and the disposal cf waste water were as satisfactory as possible under tho existing conditions. He would, however, again urge that as many householders as possible be Asked to'connect their premises with tho sewerage during the winter months.” The Mayor moved: —■■

“(1) That with a view to complying with the requirements of the District Health Officer, his letter lie referred to the Public Health Committee, with instructions to prepare a by-law covering bakers' and vendors of pastry, confectionery, etc., and report on the questions raised by Dr, Chesson.” “(2) That instructions be issued to the. Plumbing Inspector to see that all drainage connections are made at once.” The motion was seconded by Cr. Collins, and carried. With regard to the Waikanae dram it was decided to write, to the Hon. Captain Tucker, asking him to endeavor to arrange with the owners to have something done in the matter.