Widnes Examiner. — 1902-03-07 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

HEALTH OF THE NEWTON DISTRICT.  Medical Officer's Annual Report. The Necessity for an Isolation Hospital.  Dr. John W Watkins, Medical Officer of Health to the Newton Urban District Council, has issued his report on , the health of the district for the year ending December I 31st, 1901. It vappestre that during the year there were registered 494 births and 240 deaths. The birth-rate was 29'3, and the death-rate 14.2 per; 1,000 of the estimated population. The infantile death-rate was 1619 per cent. The child death-rate was 45 8 per cent, of tna total number of deaths. The causes of death were as follow, viz. : Measles 1, scarlet fever 2, whooping cough 5, diphtheria and membranous croup 4, croun 1, enteric fever 1, diarrlscee 14, enteritis 14, pbthisis 8, other tuberculous diseases 8, cancer, malignant disease, 3, bronchitis 23, pneumonia 27, alcoholism and cirrhosis of liver 6, dieeases and accidents of parturition 4, heart diseases 22, accidents 12, suicide 1, inquests 2, all other causes 82, total 240. The deaths from the seven principal emotes diseases numbered 26, being equal to a rate of 1.6 per 1,000 of the estimated population. Two hundred and nineteen cases -of infectious sickness were notified to him. ieThey were equal to a rate of 13 02 per 1,000 of the estimated population. Fifty-nine cases were removei to the Isolation Hospital. The infected houses received the assiduous and unremitting attention of the Sanitary Inspector. The member of infectious cases was abnormal and should be an object lesson tcr the Council in dealing with infections disease. Dr Watkins attributes the serr ad of scarlatina mainly to the Council not having command of the provision for isolation of the early case,. " Isolalation Hospitals," continues the report, " are not primarily for epidemics,but to prevent the earliest oases in an invasion multiplying till they are of epidemic proportion. An Isolation Hospital in an epidemic area is I but of small value in checking an epidemic. Our past experience demonstrates the absolute necessity of an I Isolation Hospital for this sanitary district. Our esti. mated population for the current • year-17,253 —is surely large enough for a hospital of its own. The estimate for the next census year is 21,682. The census of 1901 revealed an excess of 1,065 over the estimated population. History repeats itself, and there is every reason to believe that our population is increasing at a more rapid rate in the current decade (1901-1911) than In the previous one. We are forewarned, theretoro let us be forearmed. Notwithstanding the large number of CUBS of scerlatins, it is a real consolation to know that they were of the mil lest type conceivable—only two deaths in 166 cases. I would urge the Council not to pause or rest in their determination till the hospital Is an aecomplished fact—it is the one great and absolutenecessity of our people. It is not bard to believe that if the first six of those 166 cases had been absolutely isolated none other mie,ht have followed. We have the power to stamp out these diseases—then de, pray. let us have the will and tie up and doing." The report states that the rear ha 3 been one Of extraordinary activity of the Council in public works—more especially (a) the development of the Water Supply ; (Is) the extension of sewerage and the development of the bacterial process in the treatment of It; and (c) street improvement. The pew water supply a year ago could hardly be said to have get beyoude the experimental or tentative stage. There was much progress made in 1901, anal now the experts consulted and employed—(geological analysts—both chemieal and biological—andlengineers) reassured the Council by renewed statements that (I)there is abundance of water to be got from the present source; (2) that it is pure; and that (3) its efficient distribution will very soon be secured. Sewerage basebeen extended by the making of a new sewer half a mile long, and now very nearly completed—the part of it remaining to be done le being pushed on as rapidly as possible. This missing link in the chain has through technical difficulties, be wanted. The sewage treat ment has been developed and improved. In the early autumn of 1901 the Central Works were visited by delegates from the Royal Corn mission on Sewage, and as a result of their visit the Council has been asked if they would allow them to inspect and take observations of the works for twelve , months. The condition of Millingiord Brook has impreved—nertainly so far as the vast improvement in I the efflueat fr)m the Golborne Sewage Works diminished its contaminatioo—but the water coming down from Golborne le very variable in its quality and in an undesirable direction that the doctor is sure is preventible. —ln teferring to small-pox the , doctqr ears :—" The possibility of our visitation by this disease renders it quite imperative that your Council should decide what measures should be taken to meet it, and make arranze• manta that such measures shall beeome immediately practical in the event of necessit). You have no refuge for small-pox patients. In the first instance I would advise you to ask the Local Government Board for ladvice as to anticipatory measures to be taken, and then follow it. Do not Wait till the disease ceme—and things are done in a panic."—Speaking of the Voluntary 11 notification of phthisis,:the doctor says be Is still of opinion that the voluntary notification of CaS39 of the disease would net ensure the practical r 'sults so much to be desired. As a first step the Council might require the Registrar to furnish them with a special notice of every-death known to have been caused by the disease. AO that Special attention could be paid to infected houses, apartments, &c.