THE PUBLIC HEALTH

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 7

THE PUBLIC HEALTH

ANNUAL REPORT OF DEPARTMENT. Tho annual report of the Publio Health and Hospitals and Charitable Aid Department states that premises have been secured, and two soldiers with Koehampton Hospital experience engaged to manufacture artificial limbs. They have already eilected repairs for some of our maimed soldiers. There has been a considerable increase in the number of cases of infectious diseases notified, especially as regards scarlet fever and diphtheria. Of the former no fewer than 4278 cases were notified, an increase of 1977 over tho previous year. Of diphtheria 2376 cases were notified, being an increase of 972, as compared with the previous year. There was a decrease of 14 in tho number of notifications of enteric fever (806). The year was an unfortunate one as regards the epidemic of infantile paralysis, no fewer than 1018 cases being reported as follows: —From Auckland province, 546; Wellington, 382; Canterbury, 65; and Otago, 25. During ~ the year 136 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis wero notified, an increase of 50 over the previous year. There were 54 deaths. "In several reports." says the Inspectorgeneral (Dr Valintine), "reference has been made to tho large number of cases of consumption occurring amongst members of the Expeditionary Force. Up to date no fewer than 261 cases have been reported, and 281 cases were also notified by the Medical Boards. These figures show the necessity for increasing the accommodation for consumptives in tho dominion, and I have no doubt that it will before long be necessary to erect an additional sanatorium for consumptives in tho North Island." Dealing with tiie question of smallpox, Dr Valintine says the latest reports of vaccination inspectors show that not 1 per cent, of the children born in the dominion have been vaccinated, and though possibly a number of children wore vaccinated and were not notified yet undoubtedly a very largo percentage of children born in _ the dominion ore not vaccinated, though it is tho only known means of protecting them against the horrible disease of smallpox. ST. HELENS HOSPITAL. Tho Public Health Department's report states that the accommodation of the St. Helens Hospital, in Dunedin. owing to the existence of the Medical School Maternity Hospital in the same town, has not_ been seriously overtaxed, but the institution is still greatly in need of improvement, especially in regard to convenient and suitable sanitary arrangements. A new hospital should be erected, and the present building used as a nurses' home.