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:
- [1908]
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.
193/202 page 161
![at New Brighton in Augu»st, 1907 ; during the year the capitation system of charges was introduced, namely: Is. per head for cattle, 6d. for cows, 4d. for goats and sheep, and 9d. for pigs; the alteration is proving satisfactory to the butcher as well as to the Council. 14,354 lbs. of meat were condemned during the year, and, in addition, a large quantity of offal. 4'73 per cent, of the pigs slaughtered were in¬ fected with “Measles’; extensive generalised “Measles caused the condemnation of three oxen. Measles in cattle is far more common in the Eastern Province than is generally supposed. Two cows, one bull and three pigs were condemned on account of Tuberculosis, all of them being very bad cases. One butcher was con¬ victed and fined for slaughtering on premises not approved by the Council. There was a profit on working the slaughter-houses of nearly £200 for the year, after pay¬ ing all working expenses, interest and sinking fund charges. The whole of the working of the abattoirs is entirely satisfactory, and the promulgation of the regu¬ lations drafted by the Medical Officer of Health for the Colony and approved of by the Council is anticipated in the early future. All premises where articles of food are prepared or stored are regularly and systematically inspected ; a large quantity of unsound food was condemned and destroyed during the year. Nearly 800 notices were served to abate nuisances of various kinds during the year. There were 22 prosecutions under the Public Health Act and Regulations, with 21 convictions. The present sanitary staff consists of a Consulting Health Officer, a Chief Sanitary Inspector, three other Certificated Inspectors, one of them resident at and in charge of the public abattoirs, and three Inspectors not certificated but qualified for fhe duties assigned to them. 2. Walmer (M.).—Very little to report. Infectious Diseases have not been prevalent. Nine cases of Phthisis and 3 of Enteric Eever reported during the year. 3. Korsten (Y.M.B.).—Water-supply unchanged. Weekly removal system foi> night-soil, but removals are compulsory only once a month ; duplicate pails pro¬ vided ; fee, Is. per removal. The Board are considering the adoption of a com¬ pulsory weekly removal system. Refuse is collected and removed weekly free of charge. Every precaution taken to prevent the spread of Tuberculosis ; where a death occurs, or a patient changes his residence, the house, clothing, etc., are dis¬ infected. In cases of Enteric, disinfectants are supplied, and a special pail fur¬ nished by the Board. Prompt action is taken to remedy any sanitary defect dis¬ covered. PRIESKA. Prieska (M.).—Water-supply unchanged. Night-soil removed once a week from dwellings and twice a week from hotels. No outbreaks of In¬ fectious Disease. Butchers required to keep their places clean ; Police inspect from time to time. Sanitary defects are provided against in the new regulations. Three hundred young trees planted during the year; all growing well. A sanitary in¬ spector is employed. PRINCE ALBERT. Prince Albert (M.).—Water-supply and sanitary system unchanged. Notifications during the year comprised Enteric Eever 3, Scarlet Fever 49, Tuberculosis 4, Diphtheria 1, Malta Eever 1. Water is being laid on to the new Location, to which the Natives are gradually moving. QUEENSTOWN. 1. Queenstown (M.).—Report of Dr. T. F. Tannahill, Health Officer.—Water-supply from Bongolo Reservoir under control of Local Authority; supply adequate, but liable to pollution by occupation of the water shed. Pail system in use for night-soil. Enteric cases are sent to the Frontier Hospital, if patients consent. Accommodation for Syphilis not adequately provided for; the Government on 28th November, 1903, withdrew the grant, for the purpose, and the Hospital ceased to take cases. A sanitary inspector is employed, and the Health Officer reports when specially requested to do so. 2. Kamastone (Y.M.B.).—Water-supply unchanged. No systematic night-soil removal. Typhoid Fever was prevalent during most part of the year, being caused by the scarcity of rain. Officers are being employed by the Board to see that no pollution of the water-supply takes place, and places for night-soil disposal also set apart. RICHMOND. Richmond (M.).~ Water-supply for domestic purposes is carried from two springs in open buckets ; a syphon has been put up in a borehole to north¬ west of town, which is, as yet, not a success. Tub system in use for night-soil: pails emptied once a week and thoroughly disinfected. Slops disposed of by house¬ holders. Refuse removed regularly by cart. General health of town .satisfactory. Whenever a notice of Infectious Disease is received, every precaution is taken. No public slaughter-houses ; the 3 local butchers slaughter about 2 or 3 sheep a day. The Isolation Hospital has been placed in thorough repair under an iron roof. [G. 43—1909.] M](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31482041_0193.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
