Health Committee's report / City of Melbourne.

  • Melbourne (Vic.). Health Committee.
Date:
[1925]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Health Committee's report / City of Melbourne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/28 (page 16)
    defects of an insanitary nature, for which notices under the Health Act were subsequently issued. The Council’s nurse assisted in connection with the conveyance of donors of blood for the preparation of serum to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. . CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS. One case only was notified, compared with 9 in the previous year. The attack occurred in a girl aged 16 months, and proved fatal. The Council’s nurse paid four visits in order to enforce precautions against the spread of infection, and took five swabbings, all of which proved negative on bacterio¬ logical examination. The source of infection could not be traced, but insanitary defects were found on inspection of the home, and a notice under the Health Act was issued for them. DYSENTERY. Twelve cases of Dysentery (bacillary), of which 8 were inmates of the Children’s Welfare Depot, Royal Park, were notified, compared with 20 in 1924. The largest number of cases occurred in the months of March and December. There was one death—a boy aged 18 months. Two of those attacked were under one year old, 9 were in their second year, and. one was two years old. In six instances it was reported that the micro¬ organism responsible for the illness was of the Flexner type. Of the two children under one year, one was an inmate of the Depot at Royal Park, and the other had not attended a Baby Health Centre. The former was fed on cow’s milk, and the latter was breast-fed, but had only been resident in the City two days before admission to hospital. The Council’s nurse paid four visits to the homes of cases, in order to enforce measures against the spread of infection. ENCEPHALITIS' (LETHARGIC). Two cases, both in adult females, were reported, compared with 3 in 1924, and one proved fatal. The cases were widely separated as to date of attack and place of residence, and the source of infection could not be traced. One of the cases was admitted to hospital for treatment. Two visits were paid to the homes of sufferers by the Council’s nurse in order to ensure that precautions against spread were taken. At one house there were insanitary defects, for which a notice under the Health Act was issued. MALARIA. One case was reported, in a man aged 34 years. The patient, who was treated in the Melbourne Hospital, was a ship’s fireman on the s.s. “Eudunda.” The history obtained was that infection had been contracted at Rabual, New Guinea, where his blood had been found to contain the benign tertian form of malarial parasite. He was instructed as to the use of quinine and protection against mosquitoes in case of any recurrence of symptoms of the disease. TETANUS. One case, in a boy aged 9 years, was notified. The history given was that he had cut his foot on some rubbish in a lane, when going about with¬ out boots on the 14th February. On the 21st February he suffered from choking and convulsive symptoms, and Avas admitted to the Children’s Hospital on the following day. Under treatment he made a good recovery. ANTHRAX. On 21st January a report was received from the Public Health Depart¬ ment of a case of anthrax in a man residing at Surrey Hills. The anthrax pustule occurred on the shaving area of the face, and the brush used was reported by the Director of Bacteriological Laboratory at the University, Dr. R. J. Bull, to be infected with anthrax. The brush was an imitation badger hair one, wth a short white bone handle. A small red label on