Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg.

  • Johannesburg (South Africa)
Date:
[1937]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ERYSIPELAS. 94 White, 38 Native, 4 Eurafrican and 1 Asiatic cases of Erysipelas were notified in 1936-37, as compared with 74 White, 17 Native and 2 Asiatic in 1935-36 and 77 White, 12 Native and 2 Asiatic cases in 1934-35. MENINGITIS. The following table shows the registered number of deaths, with death- rates, from meningitis during the triennium 1934-37:-- 193435 1 93 5-3 6 1 936 - 37 Deaths Death-rate Deaths Death-rate Deaths Death-rate Whites 40 0-16 19 0-07 23 0-08 Natives 122 0-611 31 0-16 32 0-16 Eurafricans 3 0-20 2 0-09 3 0-13 Asiatics 3 0-28 3 0-30 1 — The failure of Medical Practitioners to notify cases of this disease was severely commented on in a previous report, when 168 deaths occurred and only 145 cases were notified. It is gratifying to note that the warning has had a salutary effect, since in the year under review the number of deaths was but 58 and the number of cases notified amounted to 115. These figures also indicate that the incidence has decreased considerably and that the death rate is markedly lower. INFANTILE PARALYSIS. (Acute Poliomyelitis.) Fourteen cases (12 White, 1 Native and 1 Asiatic) were reported in 1936-37 as compared with nil in 1935-36. Infectivity from case to case was not apparent. LEPROSY. 58 Native and 1 European cases were notified in 1936-37. With the exception of 1 Native all cases were infected before arrival in the Municipal Area, and all were transferred to the Government Leper Institute in Pretoria. PLAGUE PREVENTION AND ANTI-RODENT ACTIVITIES. No cases of plague occurred during the period under review. A safety zone continues to be maintained at an approximate radius of three miles beyond the Municipal boundaries. This has necessitated the carrying out of field rodent destruction in 36 distinct areas, totalling many thousand acres. 706 lbs. Cyanogas, 62 lbs. wheat, 10 lbs. sugar, and 10 ozs. strychnine have been used in this work. In addition, other large areas have been surveyed. 2,702 Veld rodents were found dead. Owing to rodent infestation of the Council’s Native Townships of Orlando and Pimville, one rat-catcher and two rat-catching youths are employed to deal with the former and one rat-catcher and two youths with the latter. In Orlando Township 9,552 visits to houses were made, 3,509 houses treated, Ilf lbs. wheat, 261 lbs. Cyanogas used, and 6,181 rats caught. In Pimville, 9,533 visits to houses were made, 3,232 houses treated, 220 lbs. cyanogas, 34 lbs. wheat used and 5,087 rats caught. In addition anti-rodent measures have been carried out in the surrounding areas, including Ivliptown and Nancefield. Subsequent to discussion with the Union Health Department the anti-rodent staff was augmented and re-organised towards the end of the year under review. The staff was increased by two Inspectors, five Ratcatchers and five Rateatching