Medical Inspector, and Annual Salary of Not Less Than 1000, An
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1394 on Certain Questions in Relation to Persons Suffering from was 19’0 per 1000, while it averaged 20 in the 32 pro- Mental Diseases.-Dr. SCOTT, Dr. J. IRVING, Dr. COLQUHOUN, vincial towns. The lowest death-rates in these towns were Dr. YouNG, Dr. MI’;:’1S:LE, and Dr. THOMAS discussed the 13’3 in Gateshead, 13’4 in Portsmouth, 13’8 in Burnley, and paper. 14’0 in Hull ; the highest rates were 27’2 in Manchester, In the afternoon Dr. J. IRVING read a paper on Vaccina- 27’6 in Plymouth, 28-1 in Blackburn, and 30’3 in Wolver- tion, which was subsequently discussed by Mr. CONNOLLY, hampton. The 4362 deaths in these towns included 429 Dr. MICKLE, Dr. MASON, and Dr. GRAHAM CAMPBELL. which were referred to the principal zymotic diseases, In the evening Dr. SCOTT and Dr. MASON each read a against 432 and 472 in the two preceding weeks ; of paper on Public Health. They considered that the time these 167 resulted from measles, 126 from whooping-cough, had come for a consolidation of all the various Acts that 58 from diphtheria, 32 from scarlet fever, 28 from had been passed since the adoption of the Public Health diarrhoea, and 18 from "fever" (principally enteric). No Act of 1876. It was suggested that something of the nature fatal case of any of these diseases occurred last week in of what had been done by Victoria should be adopted Sunderland; in the other towns they caused the lowest in New Zealand. The Public Health Act of Victoria pro- death-rates in Croydon, Birkenhead, Halifax, Hull, and vided a Central Board of Health, consisting of a chairman Gateshead ; and the highest rates in Plymouth, Cardiff, (permanent head of department), medical inspector, and Wolverhampton, Salford, and Blackburn. The greatest seven members elected for three years by groups of mortality from measles occurred in Plymouth, Bristol, municipal councils. These members were paid travelling Cardiff, Derby, and Blackburn ; from scarlet fever in expenses and one or two guineas for each attendance. It was Oldham and Blackburn ; and from whooping-cough in provided that they should appoint a medical inspector, who Portsmouth, Wolverhampton, Bolton, Manchester, Salford, should be an expert in sanitary science and should receive an and Oldham. The mortality from "fever" showed no annual salary of not less than 1000, an engineering marked excess in any of the 33 towns. - The 58 deaths inspector, a secretary, and such other inspectors, health from diphtheria included 21 in London, five in Leeds, five officers, clerks, and officers as might be deemed necessary. in Sheffield, four in West Ham, four in Bristol, and four The appointment of a medical officer of health was incumbent in Liverpool. No fatal case of small-pox was registered on each local board at a salary of not less than 10 per last week either in London or in any of the 32 pro- annum. Dr. Scott said that medical officers of health in vincial towns. There were six cases of small-pox under New Zealand were required under penalty to send in reports treatment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals on of infectious diseases occurring in their practices, but in the Saturday last, May 5th, against three, four, and six country districts with which he was acquainted the reports at the end of the three preceding weeks; but no new case were shelved or destroyed, no records were filed, no action was admitted during the week. The number of scarlet was taken in the matter of inspection, investigation, or fever patients in these hospitals and in the London attempt at prevention of the spread of diseases, no Fever Hospital at the end of the week was 1660, against tabulated annual report was furnished to the central numbers decreasing from 1713 to 1647 on the four preceding board, the Public Morgues Act of 1886 was a Saturdays ; 176 new cases were admitted during the week, dead letter, and nearly all of the sanitary provisions against 189, 165, and 170 in the three preceding weeks. with which sanitarians were acquainted were in abeyance. Influenza was certified as the primary cause of 27 deaths in A department of public health was required, with permanent London. The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory officers, including chief medical officer, engineer and organs in London, which had been 501, 460, and 411 in the surveyor, and one medical officer of health in each of the three preceding weeks, rose again to 417 last week, and were large centres, who should not be permitted to engage in 93 above the corrected average. The causes of 52, or 1’2 per private practice, but who might be pathologist, general in- cent., of the deaths in the 33 towns were not certified either vestigator in medico-legal matters, and supervising officer by a registered medical practitioner or by a coroner. All the over the rural medical officers. A diploma in sanitary causes of death were duly certified in Cardiff, Salford, science should be possessed by this officer. No local board Bradford, Leeds, and in nine other smaller towns; the should have a district of less area than a county. Every largest proportions of uncertified deaths were registered in rural local board should be required to appoint a medical Norwich, Liverpool, Blackburn, Hull, and Sunderland. officer and inspector of nuisances, subject to the approval and office the of the Central Board. holding during pleasure HEALTH OF SCOTCH TO‘PS. Dr. Mason suggested that the Conference should pass a motion empowering the Parliamentary Secretary to bring The annual rate of mortality in the eight Scotch towns, the matter before the Government. He felt certain, judging which had been 21’0 and 21-7 per 1000 in the two preceding by the attitude which the Government had always shown weeks, declined again to 20’5 during the week ending with regard to matters pertaining to the conservation May 5th, but exceeded by 0’9 per 1000 the mean rate during of the general health, that if these recommendations were the same period in the 33 large English towns. The rates presented, backed up, as they were, by a large number in the eight Scotch towns ranged from 15’9 in Leith and of medical men, some reform would at once take place.- 17-9 in Paisley to 21-9 in Perth and 23’1 in Edinburgh. An animated discussion followed which was joined in by The 635 deaths in these towns included 24 which were Dr. COLQUHOUN, Dr. TRUBY KING. Dr. GRAHAM CAMPBELL, referred to whooping-cough, 15 to measles, 13 to diarrhea, Mr. CONNOLLY, Dr. THOMAS, Dr. SYMES, Mr. MOR’I’ON six to diphtheria, six to "fever," and two to scarlet fever. ANDERSON, Dr. MICKLE, and Dr. FRENGLEY. — On the In all 66 deaths resulted from these principal zymotic motion of Dr. MASON, seconded by Dr. GRAHAM CAMPBELL, diseases, against 65 and 75 in the two preceding it was resolved: weeks. These 66 deaths were equal to an annual rate That this meeting authorises the Parliamentary Secretary to bring of 2’1 per 1000, which was 0 2 above the mean the matter of public health before the Government and to forward a rate last week from the same diseases in the 33 copy of the papers of Dr. Scott and Dr. Mason to the Municipal Associa- towns. The fatal cases of tion. large English whooping-cough, which had increased from 15 to 23 in the four The now votes of thanks preceding proceedings having terminated, weeks, further rose last week to 24, of which 14 occurred were to the council authorities for the use of the passed city in five in Aberdeen, and two in room in which the had to Glasgow, Edinburgh. Conference met, the Government, The deaths from which had been 18 and 24 in the to the to the officers of the measles, Canterbury Jockey Club, Branch, two declined to 15 last and and to the ladies of Christsharch who had shown such preceding weeks, again week, included 11 in and two in The fatal to the visitors. Glasgow Edinburgh. hospitality cases of diarrhoea, which had declined from 19 to 13 in the four preceding weeks, were again 13 last week, of which four were registered in Glasgow, four in Aberdeen, VITAL STATISTICS. and three in Dundee. The deaths from diphtheria, which had been three and five in the two preceding weeks, further rose to six last week, and included two in Edinburgh HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS. and two in Aberdeen. The fatal cases of "fever," which IN 33 of the largest English towns 6896 births and 4362 had been five and two in the two preceding weeks, further deaths were registered during the week ending May 5th. rose last week to six, of which five occurred in Glasgow. The annual rate of mortality in these towns, which had The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory organs in declined from 23’0 to 20-3 per 1000 in the four preceding these towns, which had been 145 and 141 in the two weeks, further decreased to 19’6 last week. In London the rate preceding weeks, further declined last week to 120, but 1395 slightly exceeded the number in the corresponding period among the various sanitary areas this disease was pro- of last year. The causes of 38, or nearly 6 per cent., portionally most prevalent in St. Pancras, Stoke Newing- of the deaths in these eight towns last week were not ton, Whitechapel, St. Saviour Southwark, Bermondsey, and certified.