[Report 1905] / Medical Officer of Health, Axbridge R.D.C.

  • Axbridge (Somerset, England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1905] / Medical Officer of Health, Axbridge R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    d?a.v.leche. MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH. /7, oio- f (XA- lA/O OuVNFVk. w- x_ ^yy6^/uyuy QCC''LsL oAn.^ V Medical Officee’s Annual Repout. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. A. V. Leche), presented his annuil report which was as follows : Area, 93,252 acres, population, 23,126 (census 1901). In- habitni bouses, 6,3' 9, average number of persons per bouse 0, birth rate per 1,000 living in 1905, 20'8 ; death rate, 14-01; zyinoi.ic rate, '7 ; infant mortality, D6-A irater Sa^rply— Generally from wells and streams. Tbe South Marsh water .supply continues satisfactory, both in quality and quantity. The tvinscombe water supply has been turbid of late, owing to engineering operations at the spring head. It will doubtless soon be clear and good as heretofore. Cheddar. Axbrul«e arid fTfghhridllA. :tr3-- being supplied from Black Down. A Local Government Board Inquiry on the water supply and drainage of Worle, was held in 1900. b'etrern.'/e—The sewerage .system if Wrington ii being rauicaily improved. Privies and cess- pits in general use, numerous drains cleared and repaired and new ones laid, scavenging executed individually. Prevalmce of disease—Ga.ses notified, 306; scirlatina, 146; diphtheria, 120; erysipelas, 35 ; enteric fever, 6. Pipjitkeria, —An outbreak of diphtheria occcurred around Allerton early in the year with one death and the schools were closed, also at Axbridge in August, in a crowded locality near the slaughter-houses. Two deaths occurred. An outbreak occurred at Congresbury with two deaths. The schools were closed. A few scattered cases were reported at Worle and Bient. A very serious epidemic visited Wrington and Blsgdon. A commodious villa was rented and converted into a temporary infectious hospital with trained nurses and an efficient visiting staff of Ixdy inspec- tors and doctors. Sciilaiina also broke out at the same time, and three tents were procured and erected in the grounds of the villa. This system was of i he greatest value in checking the disease and keeping them under control, all working smoothly and most effectually. Eighty-one cases of diphtheria were reported in the Blagdon district (which includes Wrington) and 60 cases of scarlatina. Several patients had ho!h diseases. Between 60 and 70 cases were treated in the Isolation Hospital during the six months of occupation, the epiderais being effectually stamped out. The schools at Wrington were closed, all books burnc, slates and pencils boiled and other precautions taken. The epidemic was evidently caused by importa- tion of a mild latent case, spreading it probably at school. The milk supplies were varied and numerous, well-regulated and bore no relation to the disease. All suspected throats were examined by bacterio- logical examination, which was of immense service in cheeking the disease, especially in mild unsuspected cases. An outbreak of scarlatina occurred at Mark and Churchill early iu the JCar and schools closed. 'Tuc epidonilc ■ continued at Baawell with intervals, so an isolated cottage was taken as a temporary hospital, with a hue annexed, to which Ihe patients were taken, in whose homes it was impossible to isolate. The epidemic in Banwell seems to be pracTcally at an end. An outbreak occurred in Axbridge with three deaths. The schools were closed. Congresbury School was closed for measles. One case of enteric at Cheddar, imported from Milbank, died. Two mild cases were reported at Eedhill and one at Worle. One case, a tramp, developed in Axbridge Workhouse. Measles caused one death, scarlatina five, diphtheria nine, enteric one, diarrbeea one, phthisis 41, cancer 21. IsploMon Hospital.—'Sono, but one is desirable. Cowshed.s inspected and improvements made. Slaughter- houses frequently inspected. Some ars faulty in con- struction, but they are, as a rule, kept clean and whit. washed neriodicany- ILUmhoiises cle ,.D, well-ordered and limewashed peiiodically. There are no underground bakehouses. Factories ayid IFoc/is/iops—The large laundries and facco ies at ffieddar and Worle are satisfactory as regards floors, ventilation and sanitary arrangements. The small laundries and millinery workshops and other small work places and breweries are well conducted. Two cases of overcrowding abated and one house closed as until for babitatibn. isye-laws all in force for the parishes of Axbridge, Banwell, Blagdon, Cheddar, Worle, Wins- combe, Wrington and Uphill relating to slaugh er-houses, cleansing of footways, privies and ashpits and cesspools, and removal of house refuse. I am, your obedient servant, A. V. Leche.