✨ Sanitary and Military Orders
32
with regard to the sanitary state of their dwellings—such as the sanitary state of the Guard Rooms and Blockhouses occupied by the Militia, the means of personal ablution, the cleanly condition of otherwise of the blankets and clothing, the purity of the water, the sufficiency and the means of cooking it, in fact everything laid down in the Medical regulations under the head of sanitary duties so far as they can be applied.
A Hospital for the treatment of the sick—their necessary removal to which, from their quarters, in cases of infectious disease should be pointed out.
As there is no Public Hospital in the town, a building should at once be hired for the purpose, and properly fitted up by the Colonial authorities with bed, bedding, &c. A medicine chest and appliances will be sent down immediately, and the sick can be treated by the medical officers of the militia, who will be required to furnish regularly, weekly and other returns, while embodied, through the senior Medical officer at Taranaki.
It will be the duty of the Medical officer of the Militia to point out to the men the necessity of great attention to cleanliness in the person, also if necessary to bring the matter to the notice of the Officer commanding the militia, with a view to such sanitary precautions being notified in Orders if found advisable.
As the appearance of Typhus fever, amongst the Civil population during the last war proved the precursor of “Diphtheria” and a serious mortality, while the troops entirely escaped, I rely on your judgment and discretion to carry out the duties of the post assigned to you with temper and firmness, pointing out the above melancholy mortality (above 100 deaths) as being in a great measure due to the neglect of proper sanitary precautions, but leaving the entire responsibility and execution of all measures in the hands of the Civil authorities.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) J. Mouat,
Dy. I. Genl.,
P. M. Officer.
Surgeon MacKinnon,
57th Regt., Taranaki.
GENERAL ORDER 539.
Head-Quarters,
Auckland, 4th July, 1863.
In consequence of the prevalence of Typhus fever at Taranaki, among the Militia, Surgeon MacKinnon, 57th Regt., is appointed special sanitary Officer at that station, and will perform the duty under such instructions as will be communicated by the principal Medical officer.
By Command,
(Signed) W. T. Hughes, Lt.-Col.,
A. M. Secy.
Taranaki Provincial Gazette 1863, No 16
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Instructions to Sanitary Officer
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🏥 Health & Social Welfare6 July 1863
Sanitary measures, Typhus fever, Taranaki, Militia, Hospital
- Surgeon MacKinnon, Appointed special sanitary Officer
- J. Mouat, Dy. I. Genl., P. M. Officer
🛡️ Appointment of Special Sanitary Officer
🛡️ Defence & Military4 July 1863
Typhus fever, Taranaki, Militia, Sanitary Officer, 57th Regiment
- Surgeon MacKinnon, Appointed special sanitary Officer
- W. T. Hughes, Lt.-Col., A. M. Secy.