Dr. S.W. Wheaton's report to the Local Government Board on diphtheria in the Enfield Urban District and on sanitary administration by the Urban District Council.

  • Wheaton, S. W.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. S.W. Wheaton's report to the Local Government Board on diphtheria in the Enfield Urban District and on sanitary administration by the Urban District Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The Infectious Disease (Notification) Act, 1889, was adopted in 1889. The whole of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1890, has been adopted. The Infectious Disease Prevention Act, 1890, has been adopted. There are byelaws for new streets and buildings, which were allowed in 1899 ; with respect to nuisances, which were allowed in 1887 ; for pleasure grounds, allowed in 1904; relating to tents, vans, sheds, and similar structures used for human habita- tion, allowed in 1897. There are also byelaws with respect to earth closets, allowed in 1887 ; as to houses let in lodgings, allowed in 1887 1 with respect to slaughter-houses, allowed in 1887 ; com- mon lodging houses, allowed in 1887. There are regulations for allotments, allowed in 1893 ; and regulations for dairies, cowsheds, and milkstiops, made in 1900. The council have recently arranged for an inspection of all the dairy cows in the district twice yearly by a veterinary surgeon for the detection of tuberculosis. Any suspected cows are to be tested with tuberculin and samples of their milk examined by a bacteriologist. The council have no byelaws for oflTensive trades. They have not taken any action under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890. They have not adopted the Private Streets Works Act, 1892. For assistance in preparing this report I am indebted to the medical officer of Health, Mr. W. P. W arren, who had already prepared a report on the epidemic, of the facts in which I have largely availed myself. I am also indebted greatly for assistance to Mr. Munro, the inspector of nuisances, and to Mr. Scott, the clerk to the urban district council. For permission to use his records of rainfall and temperature at Enfield I am indebted to Mr. J. McEwen, of Byculla Park, Enfield. Kecommendations. (1) Prevention of Infection.—The experience of this district as regards diphtheria indicates the need for more systematic conti-ol of the spread of infection of this disease. (a) Each case when notified should be regarded as the possible centre for other cases, some of them already in existence, though unrecognised ; others in the period of incubation ; and investigations should be made accordingly with a view to the detection of unrecognised cases and for the early diagnosis of further cases as they occur. It is the duty of the medical officer of health, as part of his work under the Board’s Order of March 23, 1891, to “ inquire into and ascertain by such means as are at his disposal the causes, origin, and distribution of disease within the district ” ; and in the discharge of this duty he will co-operate with and utilise to the fullest extent practicable the information in the possession of the practitioner who notified the first case, or of other practitioners as well as any collateral information which he can secure from the school medical officer, teachers, attendance officers, &c. (b) The inquiry forms for cases of infectious disease should be filled in by a trained and certificated inspector; all necessary particulars should be filled in on the spot at the time of the first visit. Formal notices signed by the medical officer of health as well as exact verbal instructions should be given to householders where infectious disease has occurred, advising them as to means for preventing the spread of infection, the period for which children
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