[Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Glossop Borough.

  • Glossop (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Glossop Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/8 (page 5)
    The Shippons and Dairies in the Borough are receiving the attention of the Inspector and myself. Lord Howard I believe desires to make such improvements in the shippons and dairies as are required to promote ventilation ; roomy shippons. to be well lighted are essential to the health of cattle and the sound character of the milk. In reference to slink butchers, I may say that it is nearly two years since a case of suspected Tuberculous meat was brought before my notice. On that occasion, we found the suspected meat was brought from another district. Since then the butchers who are emulous to produce good animal food, would at once give us notice if any bad meat were to be offered for sale, if the matter escaped the attention of the Inspector. The same attention to the Laws of Health are needful for its preservation, as for its restoration. When once it has become impaired by an advent of the disease, either by (1) hereditary transmission as from parent to children ; or (2) by acquirement caused by unhealthy surroundings, which first of all impair vigour and change the nutrition of the system, causing the healthy germs and bacilli in the system to undergo degeneration and lead to consumption, probably also by the introduction of diseased germs which are thus allowed by the depressed vitality of the body to yield to its progressive action, and often becomes fatal. The agencies which assist the diseased action are numerous, viz.—Colds, Influenza when neglect-ed, and any depressing cause as mental trouble may affect digestion and nutrition of the body, also ill-ventilated bedrooms and living rooms, bad drainage, rooms when poorly lighted, as well as in the workshops, especially where accompanied with sedentary employments, and these overcrowded. Thus we must have a complete change from the foregoing conditions in order to have complete health. “ Sir George Buchanan has show that wetness of soil is a fruitful cause of Phthisis, and he has found that m ceitam specified localities the fatality of this disease has diminished pavi passu with the completion of effected operations for the deep drainage of the sub-soil. Overcrowding in damp and ill- ventilated rooms is another frequent pre-disposing cause of the spread of Phthisis. It is an unusual thing to find a well ventilated apartment even in the homes of the well-to-do ; but in the dwellings of the labouring classes it is still less usual. If we could thoroughly ventilate the rooms both of the rich and poor, if we could secure the efficient drainage and drying of damp sub-soil, whilst at the same time the great vice of overcrowding was discontinued, we should have done much to diminish the present heavy death toll due to Phthisis.” It may be considered by some, that this question has been too much considered, but a full account of the question was deemed necessary so as to show that there are influences which are far beyond the power of a Medical Officer to touch, such as Meteorological influences, nature of sub-soils, &c. which we may to some extent be coutcnt to knowT and muke the best of the knowledge set before those whom it may concern.