Report on means of isolation in Victoria / by Dr. Gresswell.

  • Board of Public Health, Victoria.
Date:
[1890]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on means of isolation in Victoria / by Dr. Gresswell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    REPORT BY DR. GRESSWELL ON THE MEANS FOR ISOLATIO. INFECTIOUS PERSONS IN VICTORIA. In a report on Mcll30urne, presented to the Board in October, 1890, I dwelt upon the want of means for isolating infections persons in the nietrojiolis; frequently, too, I have invited attention to the same want in other parts of the colony ; and, as regards exotic disease, the inefficiency of the appliances for Port Quarantine, and the inadequacy of the accommodation for meeting more than the most limited requirements of Inland Quarantine, have formed the subject-matter of a considerable number of my reports. Such action as the Board are em])0W'ered to take in reference to these matters has been taken—by way of representations to the Honoralile the Minister of Health, and to the local councils of the colony, as also in regard to typhoid fever by the extreme measure of making an Order in the case of the metropolis for the provision of the necessary accommodation. It may be well now to review the general position of the colony in respect to the means for isolation. Seeing, however, that, in several recent reports, I have referred to the defects in the sanitary equipment of the State against exotic disease, it will not l)e necessary to give consideration to those defects here ; and this Report will, accordingly, be devoted in the main to questions concerning local equipment of Municipal Councils against infectious diseases. In dealing with this subject, I shall quote largely from my reports, prepared at different times on various questions relating to isolation, to disinfection, and to construction of fever-hospitals. The reports, here referred to, are as follow:— On the Sanitary Condition and Sanitary Administration of Melbonrne and Snbnrbs.— October, 1890. On the Means for Isolation of Persons Affected with Communicable Diseases in the Metropolitan District.—November, 1891. On tlie Cliaritable Institutions of Melbourne.—November, 1893. For purposes of this Report, the subject-matter will be ranged under the following headings :— I.—General History of the action taken in Victoria to provide means for isolation, n.—Isolation in its general aspects. IH.—Isolation in other countries. IV.—Some principles as to the locating, constructing and planning of isolation-hospitals. V.—Isolation in the metropolitan district. A. —Extent of communicable diseases, and of means provided for isolation of them, in the metropolis. B. —Effect of non-isolation on epidemic prevalences in the metropolis. C. —Reason for abstention from hospital on the part of the infectious sick of the metropolis. D. —Present condition as to isolation in the metropolis. E. —Isolation-requirements of the metropolis. F. —Location of isolation-accommodation for the metropoHs. G. —Materials for construction of an isolation-hospital for the metropolis. H. — Constitution of board of management, and source of funds, for providing and maintaining isolation-accommodation for the metropolis. VI.—Isolation in extra-metropolitan districts. I.—General History of Action taken in Victoria to provide Means eor Isolation. In my Melbourne report of 1890 I made the following statement:— In order that sanitary authorities may be in a position for coping with comnnmicable disease, it is necessary that they be provided with information as early as practicable of the occurrence of such disease in and about their districts ; that they be provided Avith