[Report 1907] / Medical Officers of Health, Dorset Rural and Urban District Councils.

  • Dorset (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1907] / Medical Officers of Health, Dorset Rural and Urban District Councils. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/68 page 14
    M.O.H. Reports, 1907, Poole (Urban)—continued. If no remedy can be found, the purifiers both at Mount Street and Bourne Valley should be removed to a position a mile or two north of Branksome Station. The purifiers in Poole are placed in a most unsuitable position, being so near the maiu thoroughfare. With regard to the escape of the noxious gases from the works, only an expert in gas manufacture can tell the cause, and the remedy required. Pigs' Stys.—The pig-keepers are mostly in the Newtown and Rossmoor district. Visits have been paid by the Inspector and myself. Whether the smell from pigs is an antidote to the germs of infectious disease or not, it is remarkable that no cases of infectious disease occurred in the Newtown District last year, and only one this. Disinfection.—I must again bring before your Council the great need of a steam disinfector ; however well disinfection in rooms may be carried out, it is a question whether bedding and other large articles can be thoroughly disinfected by the dry method and without the great penetrating power of saturated steam. Housing of the Working Classes Jet. —During the year several dilapidated houses in Old Orchard and Strand Street have been pulled down and new ones built. Three houses obstructive to light and air in Carter’s Lane have been pulled down, and notices sent to Landlords to put houses in a habitable condition ; if not attended to, closing orders are asked for. Medical Inspections of Children in Elementary Schools.—Dr. W. H. Power, Medical Officer of the Local Government Board in the Memorandum as to Annual Reports of Medical Officers of Health says : “ In reference to schools, it is desired to draw particular attention to the Memorandum on Medical Inspection of Children in Elementary Schools issued by the Boaid of Education in November of this year, dealing with the new duties thrown upon the Local Education Authorities in this respect by Section lil of the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907. This Act does not confer powers in supersession of those heretobefore exercised generally in a public health sense by Sanitary Authorities under previous enactments; rather it is supplementary to existing Public Health Law in that it requires supervision of the health of the individual child. The arrangements to this end to be made by Local Education Authorities will no doubt vary with the diverse circumstances of different districts, but it is anticipated that in most districts the work will, in accordance with the advice of the Board of Education, be carr ied out in conjunction with that of the Medical Officer of Health, or at least under his supervision. When the Medical Officer of Health is also School Medical Officer, it may be convenient that the annual report which he is required to make in the latter capacity, should be issued together with his annual report on the health of his district. It is the desire alike of the Local Government Board and of the Board of Education that the relation of the Local Public Health Authority aud the Local Education Authority, whether or not these bodies or their officers happen to be identical, should be intimate and cordial in Older that the administrative procedures of both bodies may be reciprocally helpful.” This Act comes into force on January 1st, 1908c Each child on entrance to school life, and at periods of three years after, has to be examiued by an appointed Medical Officer, and re0ords kept, on forms sanctioned by the Board of Education, of the health of the child from its entrance to its leaving school. The home life f the child has also to be enquired into in special cases, and the parents advised on defects found either in the health, cleanliness or nourishment of the child. One of the foremost objects of this scheme is that of bringing borne to the parents their responsibilities where physical defects occur in their children. It is only with the hearty co-operation of the teachers, aud of the parents, that the duties of this memorandum can be carried out. The first point of enquiry on the examination form, that of history of previous diseases, including infectious disease, will form a record of great use in epidemic periods. In an epidemic of measles, for instance, instead of the need of general school closure arising, it may suffice to close the infant schools while excluding, in the upper departments, only those unprotected by a previous attack. Inspection of District.—With the Inspectors I have made systematic inspections of the district. I have visited the bakehouses, cowsheds slaughter-houses, lodging-houses, and many of the factories, laundries and workshops. A house to house inspection of 688 houses, has been made during the year, many defects in the sanitary arrangements have been found and remedied. Special visits have been made to schools when infectious cases have occurred, and children who had been in contact examined. If any suspicious symprons were found these were sent home. I have lo acknowledge the vciy \alualle assistance rendered me by Mr. R. Smith, jun., the Chief Sanitary Inspector, and Mr. Ramsden, the Assistant Inspector. I have again to congratulate your Council on the many measures carried out by you for the amelioration of the sanitary state of the District. The birth-rate is ratfier lower than last year, but is still above that of the towns of England and Wales. The death-rate is the lowest recorded during the last ten years, and is 2 per 1000 below that of England and Wales. The zymotic death-rate in 1906 was 1 -31 per 1000 : in 1907 it is 0-86 per 1000, much lower than that of England and Wales. The infantile death-rate, 75-9 per 1000 births registered, is exceptionally low ; the average rate for England and Wales was 118 per 1000. Considering the extent of the slum area in St. James’, and the amount of distress during the year owing to slackness of trade, I consider the above are records to be pioud of. Report of the Chief Sanitary Inspector. The premises registered are— Bakehouses .. .. .. .. 41 Slaughter-houses .. .. .. .. 17 Cowsheds .. .. .. .. 33 Milkshops .. .. .. .. 64 Common Lodging Houses .. .. .. ± Workshops, Workplaces (not including Factories) .. 198 Domestic Workshops .. .. .. 95 452
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