[Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, Bakewell U.D.C.

  • Bakewell (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, Bakewell U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/10 (page 3)
    Scarlatina.—Special reports on the Scarlatina Epidemic which had begun in the previous September, were furnished in March and July, by order of the Local Grovernment Board. Since then only 8 cases have occurred. On May 21st the Temporary Isolation Hospital was opened, and 7 patients were treated there. The Hospital shortly after being opened, was placed in charge of a trained Nurse, and was kept open till August 20, when you directed it to be closed. The absence of any legal means to compel persons to go to it, prevented it being further utilised : the fact that a person has suitable lodging and accommodation, being apparently a bar to com- pulsory removal, though there may be no suitable attendant to look after him while ill at home. Disinfection.—The Health Committee of the County Council having called attention to the unreliability of Sulphur Fumigation as a means of disinfecting rooms after Scarlatina and recommended the use of the Geneste Herscher Spray with Corrosive Sublimate Solution as a more reliable method, you provided me with an apparatus which was used on several occasions, and appeared to work well, but after a few weeks this was returned, though the epidemic had not ceased. It certainly is a more troublesome method than fumigation, and perhajjs not suited for large lofty rooms, but is very thorough when carefully done, but the brief period it was in use did not enable any decided opinion to be formed as to its superiority to fumigation by Sulphur. All the cases have been disinfected by the Inspector of Nuisances, or by a Medical man. Schools.—The heads of Schools (Day and Sunday) have been notified by me of any Scarlatina cases occurring in houses where their Scholars live, and such Scholars have been prohibited from attending school. The Lady Manners School was closed for three weeks and fumigated, and the National and Wesleyan Schools for a like period in the Spring, on account of illness among the Scholars. Mumps and Whooping Cough were very prevalent in the Spring, and Influenza was not absent. Erysipelas.—22 cases of Ei’ysipelas is a large percentage, and can only be attributed to generally unhealthy surroundings as they were disti’ibuted throughout the year, and not confined to any particular locality. Enteric Fever.—The two cases were unconnected, de- fective drainage arrangements were found in each case.