[Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Newton Abbot R.D.C., Newton Abbot U.D.C., Dawlish U.D.C.

  • Newton Abbot (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Newton Abbot R.D.C., Newton Abbot U.D.C., Dawlish U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ISOLATION HOSPITAL. Some real progress is at length to be reported in this matter. Plans have been pre¬ pared for a small building on the field belonging to the Council at Dawlish water ; it is not yet decided whether this is to be constructed of iron or whether brick or other more substantial material is to be employed, and Mr. Clarke has been instructed to get out estimates for both. The site is about ijjr miles from the town and occupies an isolated position in a well sheltered valley, with S.W. aspect ; the Dawlish water main runs in the adjoining road—a great consideration. The parish of West Dawlish, in the Newton Rural District, within whose boundary the field is situated, will share in the benefits of this institution. The work is to be started in the early spring months. DISINFECTION. Houses are disinfected and lime washed where necessary, but there is at present no means oj dealing with infected clothing and bedding. PHTHISIS. Ten deaths were recorded from this disease, an unusually large number, the decennial average being 6. One of these was in a recent visitor, but the various towns in this locality contain many who have come from other parts of the country on account of its climatic advantages and whose deaths—perhaps after many years—are there recorded. Thus the figures are not reliable as representing the actual phthisis rate of the communities involved ; they rather pay a tribute to the general estimation in which this part of the county is held. SANITARY CONDITIONS & PROCEDURE. Water Supply is derived from two springs on Haldon, the flow from which, after a short course—in one case of | of a mile and in the other of about \ mile,—is collected in a small impounding reservoir with a sand filter, and is thence piped to the town, a distance of about 5 miles. The gathering ground is uncultivated and of moorland type, and is entirely free from houses or any source of animal pollution. There is a reservoir containing 500,000 gallons on the Burrows, a hill just outside the town. The main is continued to Holcombe, which is thus supplied from the same source, though some of the houses derive their water from a spring on the hill above. Frequent attention is paid by the Surveyor to the intake at the Thorns, in the direction of clearing out leaves or other debris brought down by the stream ; a constant supply has been maintained throughout the past year.