Islanders Health during the Occupation - Part 3

By way of something off the beaten track, here's the report on the health of the Islanders during the occupation, published in 1945, after the war had ended.

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH: ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1945. 

THE LABORATORY

The Laboratory has had another busy year, though a smaller number of specimens was dealt with than during the last three years of the Occupation. The figures since 1940 are as follows

During the Occupation the Germans made extensive use of our Laboratory facilities, sending many pathological and bacteriological specimens, thus greatly increasing our work. The diphtheria epidemic caused a further increase, reaching its peak in 194; when we actually dealt with 10,263 specimens.

When one considers the many difficulties we had to keep this laboratory functioning, this is a very creditable achievement. Before the war, figures as high as 3,000 were rare, and it is probable that much of-the increase has come to stay, for in many ways the laboratory has increased both the scope and variety of its work. Medical practitioners are using its services more.

Before the Occupation we did Wassermann tests, but rarely received sufficient specimens to make the effort worthwhile. During the Occupation we substituted the Kahn test as it became quite impossible to obtain sheep's blood. The number of specimens we receive is still very small so we continue to use the Kahn test, and send the sera to a London laboratory for the Wassermann. Tests sent in this way are paid for by the Laboratory, and where necessary are free to the patients. The Medical Research Committee has laid it down that no laboratory should undertake the Wassermann test unless they receive 50 sera a week. We at the best get about ten, and some weeks one or two only.

Pathological specimens are also sent to a London laboratory as we get on average about 20 a year. No man’s opinion on a section will remain of any value unless he deals with as many a week at least.

The amount of biological chemistry done is slowly increasing as more practitioners come to realise the value of the help they can get in this way.

By increasing the scope of its work and by utilising central laboratories, we now give a pathological service the equal to that given by any laboratory serving a hospital and area of equivalent size anywhere.

In addition to its bacteriological, pathological, and biochemical services, a blood donor panel has been added to the laboratory. This did excellent service during the Occupation, and continues to do so, having recently started a small blood bank for the convenience of the Hospital and practitioners.

The Laboratory has done good work for the General Hospital, the Medical Practitioners, and Public Health.

THE DISTRICT NURSES

The Jersey District Nurses did excellent work during the occupation in spite of the curfew, the black out, barbed wire, petrol shortage, etc. In particular they carried out a very large proportion of the 7,500 anti-diphtheria innoculation done during the Occupation. The Island owes a great debt of gratitude to these devoted women.

THE DISPENSARY.

In 1940 the Dispensary was opened as a Maternity Hospital, to centralise midwifery in a period of difficult transport and to relieve the strain on the General Hospital where an increasing number of beds were being requisitioned by the Germans. The move was a great success, for, by the end of 1941, 50% of the births in the Island were taking place at the Dispensary, and since then the percentage has risen until last year, when 67%, of all births in the Island took place there.

There was a small outbreak of puerperal fever in the Dispensary in 1942, ten cases in all. There were no deaths but it was necessary to close the Dispensary for a short time for disinfection and cleaning. During that period all cases booked for- the Dispensary were cared for in Bon Air Nursing Home at the expense of the Department.

The Dispensary has become very popular, and it would be wrong, in fact impossible, to do other than keep the Dispensary on as a Maternity Hospital. This necessity has been recognised and active steps have been taken to make the arrangement permanent.

The excellent work done by the staff of the Dispensary from the Matron downwards, and their great care of their patients in a most difficult time, have been the basic reasons for the great success of the Institution.

THE SANITARY INSPECTORS.

The work of the Sanitary inspectors was rendered very difficult owing to shortage of transport. Often it required great tact to approach enemy officers in order to get things done. Nevertheless the job was tackled and carried through very successfully. Particular attention was paid to milk, which was such an important element in our dietary during those dead years. Many prosecutions were instituted for adulterating milk with water and removing cream. This crime was rendered very attractive owing to the high price of butter on the black market.

In spite of all efforts, the cleanliness of our milk deteriorated, and it was necessary again and again to advise the public to boil all milk immediately on receipt. Even then it sometimes curdled on boiling. This was due to the delay in collection caused by shortage of transport, and to the difficulty of really cleaning the cans under Occupation conditions. Unfortunately, the milk is still dirty though some improvement has been noticed.

The Germans ultimately came to recognise the value of our Inspectors' advice, and I have often seen German personnel in the office, asking for advice on the construction of sanitary arrangements in their billets and camps.

HOUSING

No houses have been built in the Island since 1939. In addition it is estimated that St. Helier has about 800 two-roomed back-to-back or lean-to type of house. If the working; classes of Jersey are to be properly housed, we must think in terms of a plan to provide up to 1,000 houses. This is a very urgent matter and ought to receive priority over all others.

How often have I seen a yard with these two-roomed one tip and one down houses, the only water supply a stand pipe at the bottom of the yard ; inadequate W.C. accommodation in the same place, usually of obsolete types and without proper flushing. Such conditions are intolerable in the present state of our knowledge of the science of hygiene. Housing in Jersey, as elsewhere, is the most urgent problem. Before we can close all these insanitary dwellings, we must have alternative accommodation.