63

H.— 31

Officer MoWing ° aSeS Wele Sent to the General Hospital at Auckland by order of the District Health Scarlet fever .. .. 41 Blood-poisoning 2 Diphtheria . . . . 41 Plague . .' 7 Enteric fever .. . . 52 Tuberculosis .... 2 ' iak Dr. Finch (Canterbury) reports :— 1 w Oharitable Ald Board **« constituted the local authority for the purpose of the Public Health Act so far as it relates to the prevention of infectious disease by section 5 of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions.Amendment Act, 1910, a considerable amount of time was occupied in interviewing Hospital Boards and. arranging- for the appointment of suitable Inspectors to carry out tne duties in relation to the prevention of infectious diseases. These arrangements were practically completed by the Ist April, 1911, so that the Hospital Boards were able to take over hese duties throughout the district on that date. There is no doubt that this arrangement has been extremely useful and beneficial, as now practically every case of infectious disease notified is promptly investigated, and arrangements made for removal to hospital or isolation at home. Now that sufficient Inspectors are available in different parts of the district it is possible to -lake tne routine of investigations and precautionary measures more complete The Hospital Boards have now direct knowledge of the number of infectious diseases in their district, whereas before they were only acquainted with the number that were removed to the infectiousdiseases hospital under their control. uuecwous Dr. Champtaloup (Otago) reports :— An outstanding feature of the infectious diseases generally in this district is the mild character of the attacks m the great majority of cases, which, is in marked contrast to what pertains in the Old v ./Ounxry. Three cases of cerebrospinal meningitis, all fatal, occurred in the district during the year Two of the cases were admitted to the Duuedin Hospital, where a complete bacteriological investigation was made, and the meningococcus found in the cerebrospinal fluid. No cause could be detected and none of the patients or contacts had been out of this country. In view of the recent epidemic of acute poliomyelitis in the Old Country, in some cases confused with cerebrospinal meningitis, it. is interesting to note that there were two cases, both fatal in the Otago Hospital District during the year. No connection could be traced between the two The cerebrospinal fluid appeared sterile to all laboratory investigation. The pathological findin'o was that of an acute ascending myelitis resembling Landry's paralysis. Scarlet Fever. Dr. Makgill (Auckland) reports : — The cases notified from the health district during the last five years are,— 1907 266 1910 ..' ' 904 1908 195 n>ll •' 3P* 1909 .. ~ .. 124 36? The monthly returns show that during the earlier part of the year we still were suffering from (lie general epidemic of scarlet fever which started in March of the previous year. Subsequent to June the notifications fe to one-half those received during the six months previous, and now the epidemic seems to be well under control. Town and country seem to have suffered alike only the most isolated districts escaping. Again it is satisfactory to record the mildness of type since'no" deaths are recorded as from scarlet fever. n ™" as Dr. Chesson (Wellington) reports :— The total number of reported cases for this year—viz., 1,061-shows a marked increase on that of last year which was only 443. The epidemic has affected the whole district, but naturally the greater number of cases have occurred, in the more densely populated centres. The outbreak has' fortunately, been of a very mild nature-™ much so that many cases have escaped observation until in the peeling stage, and there can be little doubt that a great number have escaped observation altogether ; and tins no doubt accounts for the extent of spread, the unrecognized cases having, of course continued to mix with other children. Many cases have also been diagnosed by parents and oties as measles, and, having receivexl no medical attention, have not been isolated until some officer of £1 Department or of the Hospital Boards has noticed suspicious symptons. and has either brought the Wiko! f £VfT 01 , Hme ? f oUt r d ° med r,l ° pinion - " Followin « on a re P° rt from lector Wilson, I visited Turakina and there discovered five eases of undoubted scarlet fever previously unrecognized, one being a fruit and sweetstuff vendor. pu,viou MV The outbreak was at its height in May, having gradually increased during the preceding months and declined equally gradually during the latter months of the year. monrns Dr. Pinch (Canterbury) reports :— A widespread outbreak of scarlet fever commenced in April and continued in most of the districts until the end of the year In North Canterbury it was chiefly confined to Chmtchurch and sub £ and in South Canterbury to Timaru ; whereas m Ashburton and. Southland there were more case in the country districts than in the towns of Ashburton and Invercargill.