H.—3l

38

APPENDIX 11. — REPOETS OF DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICERS ON THE SANITARY CONDITIONS AND WORK DONE IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

PART A.—AUCKLAND DISTRICT. Owing to the departure of Dr. Purdy just before the end of the year, I am unable to furnish the usual report on this health district. For the following information lam indebted to Mr. H. Symons. Local Incidence of Infectious Disease. As the total number of notifications of infectious disease is normal, and practically the same as in the previous year, there is some basis for comparison. So we findjthat — Auckland City shows a decrease all along the line, which is as might be expected in view of the efforts made towards better sanitation. Suburban Bodies. Devonport, I regret to say, has 7 cases of enteric fever —the first since the installation of drainage in 1902. Grey Lynn suffered severely in November and December as regards enteric cases, a total of 17 cases occurring in these months. Newmarket. —Here the clearing-up process of 1907-8, '■ with subsequent increased attention to sanitary matters, have no doubt contributed to bring about the satisfactory result set forth in the foregoing table. Eden Terrace escapes with very few cases to its debit. Thames County has suffered from typhoid fever, where also, as in the borough, there have been too many cases of diphtheria. Whangarei County has again suffered from diphtheria. Water-supplies Examined. Thames County. —Sample was taken by Dr. Makgill on the 17th May, who reported, " The peculiarity about this water was the large number of moulds which grew in the plates However, even as it is, the result places the water well within the bounds of a good domestic supply, and shows that at present there is no serious pollution." Thames Borough. —Sample taken same day as above. Dr. Makgill reported, "We can class this water as a first-class supply at present, and it may be regarded with great satisfaction." Te Aroha. —Sample taken same time as the foregoing, and the Bacteriologist's report was highly satisfactory. Special Inspections. Pakatoa Island (Salvation Army Home for Inebriates) has been visited periodically in company with District Judge Kettle. Military camps at Morrinsville and the Domain, Cadet camps at Papakura and at Motuihi, were visited ; as also the Veterans' Home ; abattoirs at Westfield and Mount Roskill; manure and chemical works and boiling-down works ; jam-factories and vinegar-making plants, with a view to definitions and restrictions under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Inspections and reports were made regarding Cambridge Borough, Hamilton, and Whangarei (drainage scheme, &c), Hikurangi, Whitianga (proposed infectious-diseases hospital), Karere treeplanting camp (twice), Thames, Te Aroha, Te Awamutu, Taumarunui (several visits), Rotorua, Whakarewarewa, Waihi, Kerepehi, Waiheke, Taitukuri, Whakatemai, Kaiau, Miranda, Huntly, Otahuhu (drainage), Mount Albert, Kawakawa, and Kaikohe, and certain areas of the City of Auckland. Examination of Officees fob Public Depabtments. Four officers were examined for the Postal and Telephone Department, and one for the Department of Public Works. Applicants for admission to Government Sanatorium, Cambridge, examined, 50. Midwives Act. Five registered midwives have been suspended on account of the occurrence of puerperal septicaemia in patients under their charge, and three unregistered women have been warned not to attend any further case for the usual period of suspension. Labobatoby. The following is a summary of pathological specimens submitted to this office for examination :— i 133 sputums for examination for tubercle bacillus. 22 swabs „ diphtheria bacillus. • 45 blood „ typhoid. ; ' 13 urine „ general. 6 smears „ gonococci. 1 vaginal discharge for identification. 165 rats examined for pestis. Twenty-three specimens were received, and forwarded to the Bacteriologist, Wellington, for report.