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BRECON RURAL COUNCIL.

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BRECON RURAL COUNCIL. Important Reports on Housing. A meeting of the Brecon Rural District Council was held on Friday afternoon, Mr Owen Price in the chair. ABERCYRNOG BRIDGE. It was repoited that the committee ap- pointed to inspect the Abercyrnog bridge had failed to meet, and the meeting ex- pressed a desire that the committte should meet before the next assembly of the Coun- cil. NOTIFICATION OF MEASLES DEFEATED. A discussion took place arising out of a circular from the Local Government Board in reference to the making of an order for the compulsory notification of measles. Ger- man measles, and whooping daugh. Dr T. P. Thomas (the medical officer for the Llangorse district) recommended the adoption of the order. Mr John ttcncs (Llanfihacgel-Nantbran) said he was afraid a large number of parents would not take the trouble to notify an out- break of measles. There were many cases that were not attended by a doctor at all ? Mr John Smith concurred, adding that measles was frequently of a mild type. In reply to a member, Dr Thomas said the object of the order was to prevent cases spreading all over the district. Mr Smith said that in the case of measles the most dangerous period was past before notification was practicable. Dr Thomas remarked that there were more deaths due to measles than to any other infectious disease. Mr John Jones (Llanfihangel-Nantbran) repeated that in most cases of measles doctors were not called in at all. What power had they to compel the parents to notify the disease. ? Mr Tom Morgan said there were several cases in his district. The Chairman said the cireular had come from the Local Government Board, and the order would have to be carried out by the medical officers. Mr Smith said it was optional for the Council to adopt it. Dr W. R. Jones, Sennybridge (the medical officer for the Devynock district) also recommended the adoption of the order. The Rev Thomas Griffiths said the school in his district had been closed on account of measles, and he asked who was responsible for notifying .the medical officer of the out- break. Mr J. F. Ricketts There is a doctor to look after the school. What is he doing ? Dr W. R. Jones said they did not hear of cases for a very long time after their out- break, and often many cases were nursed at home without a doctor being called in, with the result that the disease spread over the district. Scarlet fever was notifiable, and he thought that measles ought also to be one of the compulsorily notifiable diseases, be- cause it was most infectious in its first stages. In fact, he thought it was more important to notify measles than scarlet fever. Mr Smith: You would not like to say that measles was as fatal as scarlet fever ? Dr Jones: Lately, yes, very much so. More cases of measles have proved fatal of late in proportion than of scarlet fever. The average of fatal cases of scarlet fever has gone down. Mr Smith remarked that according to the circular of the Local Government Board the adoption of the order would not justify the expense it involved. The Rev Tbos. Griffith proposed that they adopt the order. Mr Thomas Williams seconded. Mr Smith moved a direct negative, in View of the statement in the Board's report, and the expenditure involved did not justify the benefits received. The Rev Thomas Griffith: I am surprised at you, Mr Smith, a father of children, standing in the way of preventing the spreading of disease in view of the expendi- ture it involves. Mr John Smith The reason I do it is be- cause I have nursed children through measles without a doctor being called in. That is why I say it. The Rev Thos. Griffith: Then what is the use of doctors at all ? Mr Smith There are cases where we can- J not do without doctors, but in cases cf I measles proper care and keeping the children f warm wiJI bring them through. I don't think the possible benefits of adopting the order justifies the expense. The Rev Thos. Griffith: The child must have a certificate for non-attendance at school. After further discussion Mr John Jones (Llanfihangel Nantbran) seconded Mr Smith's motion, which was eventually car- ried by 14 votes to 4. PUBLIC HEALTH OF LLANGORSE DISTRICT. Dr T. P. Thomas submitted his annual re- port on the Llangorse district, showing that 33 persons of all ages died during the year, which was equal to an average of 9*9 per thousand of the inhabitants. This was slightly lower than the average for the last five years There were 57 births, 32 males and 26 females. The rate was 171 per thousand of the inhabitants, which was beyond the average for the last five years. Dealing with infectious diseases, Dr Thomas stated that there were eight tuberculosis j cases, an unusual and unpleasant feature, j All these cases were tuberculosis of the lungs. He recommended that some arrange- ment be made for a more satisfactory isola- tion of infectious disease. Especially was I this necessary in conditions such as existed during the latter part of the year,.when J large bodies of men were gathered together for training. He urged a supply of shelters, &c., suitable for home treatment for tuber- culous patients. The housing of the working class left much to be desired, and the unsatisfactory conditions in many of the houses could not fail to be a cause of disease. Many of them were small and badly ventilated, but im- provements were being earned out in some cases. With regard to others, where closing orders had been issued, the owners stated that they would close the houses. It was a I noticeable feature that whereas many of the better class houses were being built in the district no houses suitable for the working class had been erected. When the district was inspected by the Local Government Board inspector the amount of money neces- sary to build houses which could be reason- ably let at 3s to 4s per week owing to the price of labour, the difficulty of getting material, and the high rate of transport- was recognised as a reason why more such houses were not built.

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BRECON RURAL COUNCIL.