Annual report on the health and medical services of the state of Queensland.

  • Queensland. Department of Health.
Date:
[1957]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the health and medical services of the state of Queensland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/116 (page 3)
    The campaign is the biggest undertaking in preventive medicine carried out in Queensland and its success was due to co-operation between members of the British Medical Association, officers of the Department of Public Instruction, the nurses and staff of the Division of School Health Services, Local Authorities, the Red Cross Blood Bank, St. John’s Ambulance Brigade and the Press, Radio, and the Queens¬ land Health Education Council. The vaccine was supplied to the State free of charge by the Commonwealth Health Department through the Deputy Director (Dr. D. A. Dowling). I would take this opportunity of giving thanks to all who contributed to the success of the campaign. Hansen’s Disease. The number of white patients at Peel Island is now 20, of whom two patients eligible for dis¬ charge have been given approval to remain. At Fantome Island the number of patients is 24. These low figures are due to modern therapy as a result of which there were no re-admissions. The patients, appreciating the position, take great care to see they continue treatment after leaving the Island and the only patient who has been re-admitted since the sulphone treatment was established admitted that he had not availed himself of the free drugs after his discharge. At both hospitals the outlook of patients is bright and their approach to the future is one of optimism. Division of Food and Drugs. It is pleasing to note that the relationship between industry and the Department during the past few years has been a happy one, the old feeling of the industry looking upon officers of the Department as interfering and unrealistic being replaced with the realisation that we desire the co-operation of the trade to improve food standards and to protect the public against unscrupulous manufacturers. Discussions have taken place at times with various trade representatives as a result of which mutually satisfactory decisions have been reached to the benefit of the people of Queens¬ land. Much thought has been given to new Food and Drug Regulations. There has been delay in finalising these because of the desire to obtain as much uniformity as possible with other States but they are now ready for submission for gazettal. The Poisons Regulations of the various States have been under review in an endeavour to obtain uniformity and these also should be ready for consideration within the next few months. Supervision of the processing and sale of milk has proved that Queensland has a pure milk supply and it is now a relatively unimportant cause of disease. Frequent inspections to see this high standard continues are necessary as milk is the basis of many diets for invalids. The number of prosecutions for adulteration dropped from twenty-three to fourteen. Despite repeated warnings there was an increase in prosecutions for adulteration of mincemeat with preservative from twenty-nine to thirty-four. Mincemeat is also used in the diet of convalescent patients and prosecutions of butchers will continue until it is realised that fresh meat must be used for this. Environmental Sanitation. Although the activities of this Section of the Department are the basis of public health, it is the least spectacular. Over the years the responsibilities for hygiene control have been delegated to the Local Authority. Departmental inspectors visit all areas in a supervisory capacity. The institution of water supplies and sewerage systems cost money and it is to be regretted that there are towns in Queensland where there is no running Water or where no thought is being given to a sewerage system. Generally speaking, the disposal of human wastes by the pan system is, thanks for the supervision of the local health inspector carried out efficiently but nowadays this method must be considered primitive. There is a Government subsidy for new sewerage and water supply work. Another important activity of this Section is mosquito control for which a £1 for £1 subsidy is paid. The malaria carrying mosquito, A. faurati, is found as far south as Ingham and should there be another war it can be antici¬ pated that North Queensland will again be an Army base with an influx of malaria carriers. During the last war there was an epidemic of malaria in Cairns. The Army dug temporary drains which proved effective in the control of mosquito breeding. Unfortunately these earth drains, as a result of erosion, tend to become mosquito breeding grounds and it is only the control work carried out by the Cairns City Council which keeps breeding down. Despite repeated requests the Commonwealth Government, which has some responsibility in making the drains permanent works, are only prepared to contribute £18,000 towards a scheme which to do properly will cost over one million pounds. The importance of having this work completed was emphasised by Sir Hamilton Fairley, the world famous malariologist who was Adviser to the Australian Armed Forces, and it is to be regretted that the Commonwealth will not contribute a greater amount. With the expansion of secondary industries in Brisbane complaints are being received of atmospheric pollution, particularly by smoke and dust. The increase in motor cars and buses