- Details
- Edition: 18 October 1884 18 October 1884
The fortnightly meeting of this Authority was held in the union Hall,
Whitehaven, on Thursday afternoon. Mr. J. G. DEES occupied the chair, and there
were also present:-
Mr. G. W. KENWORTHY
Rev. A. F. CURWEN
Mr. ROBERTSON
Mr. H. HOWIE
Mr. W. H. ATKINSON, clerk
Dr. FISHER, medical officer
Mr. G. J. CLARK, surveyor and sanitary inspector.
The Medical Officer, Dr. FISHER reported that an epidemic of typhoid fever
had broken out at Moresby Parks, eighteen cases have occurred in eleven
families to the knowledge of the officer, one of which had proved fatal. He had
made a careful examination into the circumstances of the outbreak. The earliest
case appeared to have occurred about eight weeks ago. Whatever the origin of
the first case the spread of the disease had in a great measure owing to the
fact that no attempt at disinfection had been made until quite recently, the
typhoid evacuations being simply thrown in the ash pits in the yards within a
very short distance of the houses, chloride of lime having only been used for
the last few days. The water supply was very defective.
The chairman said he presumed measures for disinfection had been taken. The
Medical Officer said that was so. The Chairman said that the only matter was
the water supply, which was a difficult question. Some time ago the
authority had approached the Whitehaven Trustees and asked them to supply these
cottages with water from their high level service, but the terms suggested were so
high that the Authority did not think they would be justified in accepting
them. He understood that it was the intention of the Moresby Coal Company to
lay a main from their pits, where they had good water, to Moresby Parks, and he
would propose that the clerk write to the company drawing their attention to
the defective water supply, and ask them how soon they intend to supply a
better supply. The motion was agreed to.
The Medical Officer reported that the death rate for the quarter ending the
10th Sept. was 15’72 per thousand.
The Clerk stated that precepts would be signed at the next meeting for the
general expenses at the rate of 2 ½ d in the pound.