Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation.
- Durban (South Africa). Public Health Department
- Date:
- [1949]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Notification rate for Diphtheria and Enteric per 1,000 of the population for the year 1943 to 1949. 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 Enteric : European . •64 •34 •15 •14 •11 •06 •09 Coloured . 1-17 •34 •58 •68 1-98 •64 •44 Native . 2-13 1-49 •86 104 •99 •52 •19 Asiatic. .. •75 •47 •28 •34 •57 •20 •09 Diphtheria : •73 European . 2-77 3-84 2-33 1-23 1-23 •57 Coloured ... ;. 2-81 8-44 401 1 -66 2-26 •73 1 • 84 Native . •60 101 1-61 •59 100 •85 •60 Asiatic. .. 3 i I ; ■' ; 1 ■ 1 •16 •37 •37 •33 •39 •15 •32 | ; • (7). WATER SUPPLY : !Bacteriological. The normal standards of purity were well maintained during the past year, the four samples per week from various points in the City were submitted to the Government laboratory for the differential Colifbrm count. Results were consistently good. Chemical. The following averages of chemical analyses were obtained (expressed in parts per 100,000) : Total solids... ... . 7-88 Albuminoid Ammonia 0 006 * \ Loss on ignition... . 1-36 Total hardness . 2-60 Chlorine . . 1-78 Permanent hardness ... ... Ml 1 *v ■* Nitrates. . 0 020 Iron .. ... Trace “ s. Nitrates... . . Nil Poisonous Metal.. ... Nil Saline Ammonia . 0 006 3 :j ’ : ► ,l\ * 8. NIGHTSOIL, SLOPWATER AND REFUSE : CLEANSING SECTION (By courtesy of City and Water Engineer) : Cemeteries. The Municipal Cemeteries were properly conducted and maintained. Private cemeteries were regularly inspected and were generally found to be well conducted and maintained in good order, Interments. There were 7,150 burials in the Municipal cemeteries and 850 in private cemeteries, totalling 8,000 as against 7,295 and 1,212 respectively in the previous year. Cremations. Cremations during the year totalled 666, of these 556 were European and 101 Asiatics. The previous year being 528 and 141 respectively. *” Free Burials. During the year, there were 13 European free burials, 11 Coloured, 289 Native, 38 Asiatic and 2 unclassified, totalling 353, as against 206 for the previous year. The large increase is due to the fact that casualties during the racial riots were buried as paupers. ] ‘r L ■ Conservancy. The number of pails in use during the year was 13,412, an increase of 403 over the previous year, i Refuse removal and disposal. The quantity of refuse removed increased considerably and a total of 258,108f cubic yards was removed as against 247,628^ for the previous year. The disposal was carried out as in previous years, a small proportion by incineration at the Point Destructor and the remainder by tipping on low-lying and swampy areas such as Harris Park on the south bank of the Umbilo River, Argyle Road, Brick¬ field; Road and both banks of the Umgeni River. Fly complaints during the year were negligible owing to improved methods of control. i , Street Cleaning. This service was carried out regularly and without interruption. Street Washing. The experimental street washing undertaken in the Central City and Beach areas has produced excellent results and it is intended to introduce full-time service during the ensuing year. Dead Animals. 515 dead animals were removed and disposed of during the year. Public Conveniences. Public conveniences in the City, including those in public parks, but excluding those on Government property, are now 58 European and 57 non-European. Conveniences have now been com¬ pleted at Brighton Beach and Montclair Sports Ground and that at the Booth Road Bus Terminus has still to be completed. Barracks Management : Magazine Barracks. Routine measures of administration and control were : carried out as in the past. Repair and maintenance operations were carried out by the Construction and Water Divisions and by the City Electrical Engineer’s Department. The construction of combination shower- and water- closets for each flat in the double-storey brick and hollow block sections of the barracks is complete. Drama Hall. School facilities and various functions still continue to be held in this Hall, including health lectures given to the Barracks residents. ] Clinics. Attendances have been well maintained during the year and the facilities offered greatly appreciated. i Sports Ground. These have been of considerable benefit to the residents and have been kept in good order $nd condition. | ,,! i ■ j 9. MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR : 1 ■» ; Meat Supplies. The number of animals slaughtered during the year at the Municipal Abattoir was as Follows : i 1' -- •» -- : .- - - .... Hi j • ! r»> i : i ? it- i ; i - Bovines Swine Sheep & Goats Slaughtered ;. ... ... . ... 66,525 80,975 114,351 & .~ir.1 ~ i. 1 ■ Whole carcases condemned... .. (73,989) (46,330) (123,391) 2,514 5,127 271 / (2,653) (4,252) (413) Portions of carcases in lb. weight . 287,779 72,153 131,435 (300,564) (117,545) (171,436)](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31486861_0034.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
