Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Colony on the public health ... / Cape of Good Hope.
- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). Department of Public Health.
- Date:
- [1902]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Colony on the public health ... / Cape of Good Hope. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![2. The Municipality has entered into contract for the disposal of house refuse daily, and for the removal of night-soil weekly. This has been carried out satisfactorily. 3. Household and other refuse is deposited at a distance of 600 yards outside the township at two spots. 4. There have been few cases of Typhoid Fever, which have been dealt with in accordance with the Act. 5. An officer, appointed by the Municipality, guards against the pol¬ lution of water and the accumulation of filth. (n) Indwe (Municipality). 1. Water-supply.—The water-supply for the town of Indwe has not improved. As previously reported, the water provided by the Indwe Company is simply pumped direct from the Indwe River, and is passed, without any filtration whatever, into a reservoir, from which it is taken to one stand¬ pipe, consequently it is at all times in an impure state. It was hoped that the waterworks for the town would have been in course of construction by this time, but unfortunately difficulties (not anticipated) have so far rendered this impossible. 2. Sanitary Arrangements.—The sanitary work has been well car¬ ried out by the contractor, who has given a bi-weekly service, and latterly this work has been done by the Council departmental ly, with the most satisfactory results, and as soon as the new sanitary cart is built, it is intended to remove all slops daily, which should tend to im¬ prove the sanitation of the town. Sanitary refuse is deposited about a mile from the town, and all de¬ posits are well covered with earth to a depth of four feet. Ashes and rubbish are removed with regularity each week, and also properly buried. 3. Native Location.—This is being well supervised. Proper and suffi¬ cient latrine accommodation has been provided by the Municipality, and the whole location is cleaned fortnightly. 4. Infectious Diseases.—During the latter part of last year, there was a slight outbreak of Small-pox, which, however, did not spread after the infected patients were removed to the Lazaretto. This year we have had rather a large number of Enteric cases (about thirty-five in all), but they were nearly all slight attacks. During the prevalence of the fever, great care was exercised by the Sanitary Contractor, and every precau¬ tion was taken by the Municipality. Considering the large native population, and the constant passing to and fro of large numbers of natives, perfect freedom from infectious diseases cannot be expected, but every care has been exercised by the Municipal Authorities, with the very best results. 5. Streets, &c.—Indwe being so young a town, much has yet to be done in the matters of street work and drainage of the town, but the Municipal Council are endeavouring to steadily improve these things; a large amount has been voted for street construction by contract, and it is hoped that within the next year great advances will be made in this direction. The general health of the town is good, and compares favour¬ ably with many places of greater importance. The great want is a plentiful supply of pure water, and when the contemplated water scheme is carried out, which will give to each house¬ holder a sufficiency of good water, it is believed that the health and the sanitation of the town will be secured. [G. 66—1903.]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3148198x_0273.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
