Annual report of the Commissioner of Public Health / Queensland.

  • Queensland. Department of Public Health.
Date:
[1910]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Commissioner of Public Health / Queensland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/16 (page 6)
    3. Phthisis. The death roll from phthisis affords a lesson in the economic aspects of public health. By the Australian age-distribution of cases of this disease for 1909,68 per cent. (232) of the 341 deaths for 1909 may be taken as having occurred in persons between 15 and 50. These people are at the most productire and useful period of life—an age which yields the highest proportion of breadwinners, of producers and supporters of families, and of individual prosperity and happiness. Their disablement and loss at these ages is hence peculiarly productive of misery and poverty. An average fatal case may, on a very low estimate, be taken as representing at least £25 of direct expenditure, whether this be personal outlay or cost of sanatorium or hopital treatment at the public expense. The deaths for 1909 hence represent over £8,000 of public or private expenditure on account of this one preventable disease. The remedy lies less in the direction of extensive curative provision by sanatoria, than in that of protective segregation of advanced indigent cases, the systematic dissemination of information regarding simple methods of preventing infection from sufferers, the suppression of the filthy practice of spitting about, and the destruction of infection by appropriate means after the death or removal of sufferers. The basic facts of the practicable methods of prevention, and the manner of spread, of the principal preventable diseases would, if systematically taught in schools, as is done in many places elsewhere, do a great deal towards limiting in the near future their present disastrous effects as poverty producers. Cases of phthisis reported from the Metropolitan Area are visited by the Staff Nurse, and advice is given both verbally and in printed form. Disinfection has continued, as in the case of other infectious diseases, to be carried out from this Department on behalf of 17 of the Local Authorities in the Metropolitan Area, the cost being recovered from them. A Regulation forbidding Spitting on Footpaths or in public places was made on 16th March. The Commissioner of Police instructed his officers to secure its enforcement in Brisbane, and five offenders were prosecuted and convicted. The effect has been salutary. 4. Ttphoid Fevee. This is another disease of particularly uneconomic effect, both from its age-incidence and the long period of disablement which it causes. Assuming the average cost at £8 per case (again a very low estimate), the bill for typhoid for 1909-10 amounts to at least £6,000. Owing to the non-return of hospital cases, it is probably much more than this. The proven existence of typhoid “ carriers” has put the epidemiology of this disease in a new light. The influence of flies in transmitting the infection has also been demonstrated beyond all doubt. Both features afford conclusive arguments in favour of attention to local sanitary executive and the maintenance of a high standard of efficiency in all dealings with excretal matter. 5. Malaeia. An outbreak of severe sub-tertian malaria occurred at Kidston (Oaks Rush), and necessitated the despatch of Dr. Baxter Tyrie (Government Health Officer) from Cairns. His investigation showed that the disease had probably been introduced by infected European miners from New Guinea. Amongst a population of approximately 400, 120 persons were affected, and at least 25 died. The measures taken by Dr. Tyrie were successful in stopping the outbreak. lhe establishment of severe forms of malaria in Tropical Queensland require to be carefully guarded against, as the economic results of this disease are very serious. V.—MOSQUITO DESTRUCTION. A request submitted by a deputation from the British Medical Association that systematic operations should be undertaken against mosquitoes in view of the present prevalence of filariasis, and future risks from yellow fever, was considered. The principal conclusions arrived at were:—(l) That effective operations could be undertaken against the Culex iatiqans, and Siecjomyia calopus, both of which are very common domestic mosquitoes in Brisbane, and which, when infected, convey filariae and yellow'fever, respectively, to man; (2) That such operations would require, as a necessary preliminary, statutory powers for entry, action, and enforcement of suitable regulations, such pow'ers not being granted under “ The Health Act of 1900” ; (3) That rain-water tanks and other domestic collections of unprotected water afford the principal breeding places for these iusects; (4) That the work, if undertaken, should, owing to the accuracy and precision of detail needed for success, be controlled from this Department; (5) That a large organisation would be required at the outset, to deal with the Metropolitan Area of Brisbane, but that operations in a suitable selected area would yield useful results as a basis for subsequent methods and action. A report w-as submitted. During this inquiry interesting information regarding mosquito (larvae) destroying fish commonly found in streams in Southern Queensland was obtained from Mr. Ogilbv, Secretary of the Amateur Fishermen’s Association, and from Dr. T. L. Bancroft. Specimens were obtained and are now under observation. The results show that one or more species of these local fish are at least as effective aud practically useful for mosquito destruction as are the much-advertised “millions” of Barbados.