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CENTRAL BOARD OF HEALTH.
The usual meeting of tho Central Board of
Hoalth was held yesterday forenoon ; Mr. A.
P. Akehurst presided, and tho other mombors
present xvere Professors Kernob and Masxon,
Drs. Robo, Shields ond Twoeddate, and Mr.
Cosmo Nowbery.
minctrk.
The President stated that owing to pressure
of work tho minutes of the last meeting of tho
board hod not been prepared by the clerk.
Dr. Rose said it xvas absolutely necessary to
obtain additional clerical assistance, owing to
the work of tho department having greatly
increased and one clerk having been taken
away. Ho moved a resolution to the offect that
the Government bo requested to appoint an
additional clerk.
The resolution was agreed to.
THE TYPHOrD RETURNS.
The President drew attention to the fact that
The Age had recently stated that tho typhoid
returns of tho Central Board of Health were
prepared iu such n slipshod manner as to be per
fectly useless for future reference. Ho denied
that there was any foundation for such an asser
tion, as tho books of the department would
shoxv.
Dr. Shields stated that tho typhoid and
diphtheria records were kept in a full and com
plete form, and that they would, contrary to
tho statement which had been made, prove both
useful and reliable for fntnro reference.
LEPERS FROM THE COUNTRY.
The Presidont intimated that in a short time
two lepers would bo received at tho quarantine
station from Sandhurst, ond probably two others
from Ballarat. In the opinion of tho medical
officer at the station, the best course to adopt in
regard to these patients was to build two huts,
containing two rooms each, for their reception.
There were two lepers at the station already
quartered in special huts.
It was xosolved that the hnts bo built as sug
gested.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRES.
The President announced that the regulations
relating to precautions against fires in hotels
and coffee palaees had been circulated. The
question had arisen in connection with the
quantity of water that should be retained in
tanks and the construction of external balconies
from the top story of the buildings. These had
been advocated by some persons who had seen
tho high buildings on the Continent, but there
wore obstacles to tho carrying out of the soheme.
The matter was held over for further con
sideration.
TYPHOID PEX'ER AND DIPHTHERIA.
The Presidont submitted for tho information
of tho board a return showing the number of
cases of typhoid fever and diphtheria whioh
havo occurred iu the various districts of the
colony since the 1st of December last up till the
6th of Maroh. On tho occasion of their last
meeting Horsham stood hj/ tho worst' position,
but noxv Moorabbin had the largest' num
ber of cases. Horsham stood next on tho
list, followed by Coburg, Malvorn and
South Molbouruo ' in tho order named,
xvith Oakleigh and Northcoto, equal, next.
The different percentages had been all worked
out, and ho thought there wore two or threo
things in regard to these percentages that xvero
worth noticing. Ono xvas that typhoid fevor
this year could not be of so virulent a type as
many medical men predicted it would be, be
cause, as far as tho list at present before them
xvas concerned, the death rate had not
amounted to 10 per cont. In the lost
report of . tho hoard to the Government
tlioy would remember that it was stated that
tho average percentage of deaths from this
disease, taking difforeut countries, xvas from 15
to 25 per cent.; bat this year the number of
oases reported up till the 6th March xvas 1725,
xvhile the deaths had only been 161.
Dr. Roso said that previously only the case3
that died were reported, but now every case
xvas supposed to ho reported. And yet they
had a loxver death rate, and also understood
more exactly tlie proper state of the colony.
This shoxved tlie great importance of the inser
tion of the clause in tho act.
The President said that if he remembered
aright the percentages he had referred to, from
15 to 25, xvere those of tho world at large. Since
tho clause compelling all cases to bo reported
had been inserted in tho act the average per
centage of deaths hero had only been 10 per
cent.
Dr. Shields said the disease was of a very mild
form this year.
The Presidont said tho deaths this season from
1st December hnd been 161, as compared with
135 for tlio same period last year, but although
there were thus 26 more deaths, they knew of
1073 more cases this year than ware reported
last. , , ,
Profo'ssor Maason : It does not follow that
thoro wore more.
The Presidont said no. They simply had
more information. Diuring tho corresponding
period of last year 652 cases xvere reported as
against 1725 this.
Professor Masson askcil whether there was
any reason to suspect that Bome of the oases at
first reported were not those of typhoid.
Dr. lioso said ho dill not think so, and it
would bo a slandor on the medical profession to
say that cases xvero reported by any of its mem
bers in order to obtain the half-crown.
Dr. Twccddalo considered it would bo much
more likely for medical men not to report cases
than to do so.
Tho President said that mistakes happened
on both sides. But it would be absurd to say
that any medical man for the sako of half a
crown, and with almost tho certainty of being
found out, would ever reportcases that were not
thoso of typhoid.
Dr. Rose said that a number of cases xvero
never reported at all, aasumiug, as they did,
such a mild form that for various reasons the
medical man xvould regard reporting them as
unnecessary and undesirable.
The President said he had compiled a fexv
figures that perhaps might bo interesting to the
board. "With regard to greater Melbourne, the
averago number of deaths per year for the past
18 year3 was 212. This season they numbered
108, which xvas certainly under tho average.
Dr. Rose remarked that March and April
wore often very bad, in faot April xvas tho
severest mouth.
The Presidont resuming said that for Victoria
as a whole the averago number of deaths for tho
past 10 years had been 478. This season the total
deaths for the whole colony bad been 180. So
tliat his impression xvas, unless tho discaso
assumed a more malignant form, they xvould
be under . the average in tho couutry
and over tho averago in tlie metropolitan
municipalities this season. Melbourne camo
out oxtremely xvell, and xvould be under the
average. He thought this was not very bad.
In point of fact the percentage of deaths from
diphtheria liad boon greater than from typhoid.
There xvere 163 cases of this disease reported
from 1st December up till the 6th March, with
51 deaths, almost 33 per cent., while during the
corresponding period of last year the number of
cases reported xvas only 63, and tlio deaths xvere
28, so that with 23 more deaths 100 more cases
came to light-
Professor ICernot : Tlien this may bo called
tho diphtheria year, and not typhoid.
Tho President : Tho average for tho five
years previous to 1888 xvas 43 in greater Mel
bourne, whereas there had only beon 25 cases
this year, End only two of these were in tho
city itseif. In the colony as a xvholo the
average number of deaths per year for tho past
live years xx'as 138. This season, up to tho 6th
inst., 71 deaths had occurred. Tlio number of
cases, in proportion to tho population, xvas
greatest at Moorabbin, equal to 9.57 per 1000.
Horsham had 7.6, Brunswick 5.3, Coburg 6,
Malvern 5.5, South Melbourne 4.47, and Oak
leigh and Northcote 4 per 1000 each.
Professor Kornot failed to see why Malvern
should he so bad.
Mr. Nowbery said there were some very filthy
spots about tho place, and deposits of nightsoil
made iu times past were now bearing fruit.
After some conversational discussion the
matter dropped.
LOCAL INSPECTORS.
The President directed attention to the con-
duot of sevoral local inspectors, who instead of
assisting the board in prosecutions xrhich they
had initiated for the suppression of nuisanoos,
either stood idly by or went into the witness box
and aotually gave evidence in favor of tho
defendants.
On tlie motion of "Professor- Masson, it xvas re
solved to xvrito to the local boards concerned,
and ask for an explanation.
THE OASE OF. MR. BUTLER.
The President reported tho receipt of a letter
from the Under-Secretary stating that it would
not bo practicable to obtain Mr. Butler's
permanent appointment as inspector to
the board under tlio spcoial clanso
in the not, because there might be engineers in
the Bervioo possessing special sanitary know
ledge, and if they were they would be entitled
to first consideration.
On tlio motion of Dr. Boso it was resolved
that a letter bo written to the Under-Secretary
asking that Mr. Butler's salary bo increased,
and that the faot of his application for perma
nent employment may bo kept in mind.
OPENING OF NEW BUILDINGS
The opening of the following new buildings
was approved by the board : — Weslayan Church,
Queenscliff ; shire hall, Omeo ; mechanics' in-
stitute and free library, Edenhope ; athenænum,
Yarrawonga ; Presbyterian Church, Newmarket;
Presbyterian Church, Violet Town ; Presby-
terian Church, Surrey Hills ; mechanics' insti
tute, Garfield ; Miller and Miller's skating
rink, Echuca ; Roman Catholic Churoh, Ararat ;
Wesleyan Church, Spensley-street, Clifton
Hill ; Presbyterian Church, Nhill ; public hall,
Union-road, Ascot Yale.
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