From Our Collection

 

Concord’s Infectious Diseases Register

Councils were required to keep a register of infectious diseases under the Public Health Act, 1896 (Act No. 38, 60 Vic). (This book covers the period January 1898 to March 1970.)

As the local authority, Concord Council was notified of cases within the municipality by attending medical practitioners. Upon advice, the premises were inspected and usually disinfected by the Council or the householder.

The register contains handwritten entries in chronological order and records the following information: date of report; date of receipt of report; name of legally qualified medical practitioner notifying; patients name; sex; age; disease; address of premises; ward of municipality; milk supply; school; residence at date of attack; date of service of notice; if separate nightsoil service provided; if articles removed and disinfected by local authority; premises disinfected by local authority/by householder; and any matter requiring attention.

Diseases to be notified were published in the NSW Government Gazette. Those noted in the register include Enteric Fever, Scarlatina/Scarlet Fever, Poliomyelitis, Infectious Hepatitis, Diphtheria, Typhus, Meningitis and Tuberculosis.

It records the progress of the Pneumonic Influenza epidemic, commonly known as the Spanish Flu, between March and July 1919.

NOTE: Many of those infected with Pneumonic Influenza (Spanish Flu) would have been sent to the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital, which had been taken over by the government to house sufferers of the Spanish Flu.

 

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