Public Health 2 Source Sheet No. 26
Prevention of Infectious Diseases
The Council’s role as the Local Board of Health for the City of Adelaide was greatly widened by the Health Act of 1898, especially in regard to the detection and suppression of infectious diseases. Disease sufferers were isolated and their property and possessions disinfected at the Corporation’s steam disinfector station at the Halifax Street Depot. Patients were sent at the Board’s expense to the Adelaide Hospital and later to the new Infectious Diseases Hospital at Northfield. For many years the Board also subsidised care at the private Kalyra Home for Consumptives located in the Adelaide Hills. Other sanitary measures were introduced such as the provision of public conveniences, destruction of household refuse, bacteriological monitoring of air and water samples (by the City Analyst), and extermination of vermin. Milk and meat supplies were improved through centralised regulation and inspection, which includedcollaboration between the Adelaide and suburban local boards of health to support aMetropolitan Dairies Board (1899-1908) and the Metropolitan Abattoirs Board (1908-1933). Immunisation and X-ray services were provided in the 1940s and 50s, and regular preventive health checks conducted in City schools. Later, the Board’s work was performed by an Environmental Health Unit which looked after such issues as food hygiene, accommodation standards, water quality and waste disposal.
Archival Sources
Record Description / Date Range / Accession Number(s)Town Clerk’s Special File 26 ‘Kalyra [Hospital]’ / 1911 - 1912 / 352
Town Clerk’s Special File 50 ‘Metropolitan Infectious Diseases Hospital / 1921-1948 / 352
Town Clerk’s Special File 194 ‘Venereal Diseases’ / 1933 - 1977 / 352
Town Clerk’s Special File 226 ‘Diphtheria Immunisation’ / 1938 - 1976 / 352
Town Clerk’s Special File 247 ‘Smallpox Vaccination’ / 1942 - 1963 / 352
Town Clerk’s Special File 461 ‘Influenza Immunisation’ / 1957 – 1970 / 352
Register of Visits [by Trained Nurse] / c1911 - 1912 / 694
Kalyra Fund - Register of Admissions / 1903 - 1917 / 636
Infectious Diseases Dockets / 1930-1979 / 245
Registration Book of Infectious Diseases / 1899 - 1914 / 698
[Register of] Reports [of] Infectious Diseases / 1952-1969 / 5357
Alphabetical Register of Cases of Infectious Diseases / 1913 - 1929 / 697
Register of Visits - Cases of Infectious Diseases / 1909 - 1960 / 696, 5176
Ledger (fees paid to doctors notifying cases of diseases) / 1910 - 1927 / 634
[Record Book of] Cases of Infectious Diseases / 1899-1927 / 695
Infectious Diseases Register / 1942-1964 / 5177
[Register of] Bacteriological Examinations / 1941-1979 / 383
Register of Premises Disinfected / 1918 - 1927 / 639
Disinfection of Premises - Record Books / 1910-1943 / 638
Inquiry Cards - Pulmonary Tuberculosis / 1950s -1960s / 4670
Conference re Phthisis [tuberculosis] - Minutes and Records of Proceedings / 1903 / 634
X-ray Health Survey Schedules (book) / 1942 - 1946 / 4150
Report on Microradiology / 1944 - 1953 / 5178, 5419
Records re Radiography / c1950s / 5420
Health Department Dockets / 1944 - 1974 / 244
Health Department Correspondence Files / 1959 - 1979 / 38
Records of the Metropolitan Dairies Board
Minutes of the Metropolitan Dairies Board / 1908 - 1909 / 631
Letterbook - Metropolitan Dairies Board / 1907 - 1909 / 632
Minutes of the Inspector of Milk Dairies and Dairy Cattle Committee / 1899 - 1900 / 637
Records relating to the Metropolitan Abattoirs Board
Metropolitan Abattoirs Board Publications / c1913 -1930 / 1771
Further sources.
City Archives Source Sheet No.25 Public Health I
See also Mayor’s Reports, Annual Reports and the Digests of Proceedings 1872-
Further Information
City Archives: Topham Mall, off Currie and Waymouth Streets, Adelaide 5000
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