[Report 1910] / Medical Officer of Health, Heath Town D.C.

  • Heath (England). Town Council.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1910] / Medical Officer of Health, Heath Town D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/36 (page 3)
    in recent years, and yet we find that the rate was practically halt the lowest rate previously recorded. There was however one feature in the summer of 1910 which I particularly noticed, namely the almost complete absence of the house fly, and the blow fly. Whether this is due to some particular conditions obtaining last year, or to some definite result of our work cannot be stated, but certainly hygienic conditions seriously inhabit the breeding of the flies, which specially select for the development of the earlier stages of their metamorphosis, manure heaps and offal and other unsanitary conditions which ought to be far removed entirely from the proximity of dwelling houses. And it is certain that flies more than any other agency contribute to diarrhoeal diseases, and are aften carriers of tubercle and other zymotic organisms. By persistent and successful endeavour to remove these unsanitary conditions, there is bound to be a reflex on the mortality and especially on the infant death rate owing to the ease with which milk can be contaminated, if adequate care is not taken. It is however clear that with a small community, the law of averages does not hold good, and chance fluctuations of considerable amplitude are bound to take place, and this is one of them. This is illustrated by the fact that while these pages are going to press, the first month of the new year shows one fourth of the total deaths that occurred during the whole of this year. There does not appear to be any large demand for female labour in the District; and I have no evidence that mothers of very young children leave them and go to work. Notification of Births Act 1907.—I have frequently pointed out, both in my reports and at your meetings, the great potential value of this Act. I believe your Council have fully realised this, and are anxious to adopt it, if the proper machinery can be provided to carry out the intentions of the Act. While this is going through the press, a serious effort is being made to secure the services of a Health Visitor, who will efficiently carry out the provisions of the Act under circum- stances suitable for a small District. The three alternatives have presented themselves, (I) joining with adjacent Districts, in one Visitor, (II) joining in the County scheme; (III) employing a part time Visitor, and at present the opinion is that the latter is the most feasible as it does not depend on the somewhat tardy action of surrounding Districts, and the services of the District Nurse, who has worked in the District for many years, with great success might be most advantageously used for the purpose, if suitable arrange- ments can be made.