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19
The nature, amount and fatality of the sickness which
came under treatment amongst the parochial poor during
the year is shewn in Table V., Appendix. This record is
valuable, inasmuch as it affords the only trustworthy
means of estimating the nature and extent of disease which
has prevailed generally throughout the Sub-district. The
amount of sickness is seen to have been unusually great,
the total number of cases amounting to 2130; the deaths
were 62 in number, or 2.9 per cent. the average number of
cases during the preceding ten years was 1362, and of
deaths 41, or 3 per cent.
The amount of Epidemic disease was also unusually
great, the number of cases amounting to 470, being upwards
of 22 per cent. of all sickness, and the deaths 24; the
average number of cases during the preceding ten years
was 309, and the deaths 11. A summary of the principal
sanitary operations which have been carried out during
the year is contained in table VI., Appendix. They were
all conducted, with but one exception, without the necessity
of any appeal to the law. In addition to these, the
Slaughter-houses and Cow-houses of the Parish were all
examined and specially reported on; and all the usual
sanitary proceedings adopted by the Board for the prevention
of the spread of infectious diseases in the houses of
the poor were vigorously prosecuted with the greatest
advantage. The benefits derivable from these proceedings
would be greatly enhanced by the possession of a constant
water supply, and by the erection of a public Mortuary in
this parish. A constant water supply is needed not only
for the purpose of ensuring increased quantity, but
especially because the receptacles for the storage of water
in the houses of the poor are, either from construction or
position, for the most part dangerously unfit for the
purpose. There is much need for a Mortuary (See Reports
for 1859 and 1867) which, in addition to the ordinary
usage of such a building, could be made available for the
reception of persons dying from contagious diseases, during
the period between death and interment, and for containing
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