Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 21 May 1921

Health of Mexborough

Doctor Huey’s Interesting Survey

A Case For Common Sense and Hygiene

Doctor JJ Huey, medical officer for the urban district of Mexborough, presented his report for 1920 at the meeting of the Mexborough Urban District Council on Wednesday.

Doctor Huey estimates the population at 18,371. The area is 1293 acres. The rateable value is £38,048 pounds. During the year there were 470 births and 199 deaths.

Of the birds to 211 males and 249 females. 17 births were illegitimate. The birthrate was 20.6 as compared with 25.4 for England and Wales. The death rate was 10.7, against 12.6 in the previous year, and 12.4 for the country.

51 deaths were of infants under 12 months, giving an infant mortality of 108 against 126 in the previous year. The rate for the country (urban areas) is from 75 to 89.

Doctor Huey expressed disappointment at the high infant mortality, and emphasising Ponta do the utmost to keep expectant mothers in general health. Many infantile deaths were due to social conditions – worry, overcrowding, female neighbour, et cetera. The majority of the children were born fine, healthy babies and were making fine progress. Generally, the mothers are glad to accept advice, and did not hesitate to spend money on the proper nourishment. The practice of taking infants to places of amusement, however, continued and was difficult to check. Some young mothers could not be made to realise a serious risk to which they expose their babies. The infant welfare Centre was appreciated by the mothers who attended, but it was difficult to get hold of the mothers who ought to attend the centre.

There were 164 notifications of infectious disease compared with 319 in the previous year. The cases included 30 of diphtheria, 26 of scarlet fever, 32 of enteric, 58 pulmonary tuberculosis, 13 of erysipelas, three of malaria, 11 of pneumonia, five of ophthalmia neonatorium, and two of puerperal fever.

There were no case of smallpox, but it was of vital importance that the attention of the public should be continually directed to the need for vaccination in infancy and revaccination in adolescents. The case with which exemption from vaccination could be procured, an increase in the number of exemptions, constituted a grave menace to the public health.

With regard to tuberculosis, the immediate outlook was not reassuring. Better housing, more effective legislation dealing with cattle, milk, and workshops, improved hygienic habits among the people, personal and domestic cleanliness, care in preventing the spread of infection, physical culture of children, care in dealing with complications arising out of measles and whooping cough, were all of first-class importance as measures against the spread of this disease.

With regard to infant welfare work, Doctor Huey observed: “It must be borne in mind that hand in hand with welfare work, every effort in improving the general sanitation of your town is of special importance so far as young children are concerned, for they are most vulnerable to insanitary conditions. It is possible to point to towns struggling vainly against excessive infant mortality by means of welfare centres galore, in the midst of sanitation reminiscent of mediaeval times. Such primitive and prosaic matters as the proper disposal of sewage and house refuse, the paving of backyards, the scavenging of roads, the avoidance of nuisances of every description, are essential factors in regard to infant mortality. Pig keeping and indiscriminate foul keeping, stable and slaughter houses, useful though they may be, are not favourable to infant culture.”

Doctor Huey recommended the abolition of the present system of scattered, private slaughterhouses, and the provision of the public abattoir in the regular inspection. He added, however, that the proprietors of the slaughterhouses, generally speaking, carried out the bylaws.

“Beyond that, I have no praise for private slaughterhouses.” A public abattoir secure constant and unfairly meet inspection, the most improved methods of slaughter, a maximum of cleanliness, and a minimum of suffering.

With regard to scavenging, Doctor Huey said the importance of scrupulous cleanliness in every direction could not be overestimated. Accumulation of dirt and organic matter, in addition to giving up offensive odours, bread flies, which in turn contaminated food. There was a special need for cleanliness in the handling and storing of food and in exposing it for sale. Fish and fruit and often exploding open windows and on the pavement, and sufficient care was not taken in the Angling of milk. After purchase, food was subject to further contamination, and through lack of storage or want of care. A little common sense, and a little elementary hygiene could do much to improve matters and raise the standard of living.

There was still a good deal of overcrowding in the district, and no permanent improvement could be expected until the supply of houses was equal to the demand.

Mr J.E.Cliff said the council were much obliged to report. It was one of the most comprehensive and exhaustive you listen to, and great credit was due to Doctor Huey.

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