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6
The most noticeable features of this table
are the further reduction in the cases of diphtheria
and of enteric fever : these are largely
drain-diseases and the improvement is probably
due to improved drainage of the district. The
cases of scarlatina rose again to nearly the average
of the five years, and nearly all the cases
were removed to the Isolation Hospital.
The only case of small pox was taken to
South Mimms Hospital.
It has been suggested at a meeting of the
Medical Officers of Health of this County that
diphtheria antitoxin should be supplied free of
charge for cases in which the parents are not able
to pay for it. This is, in my opinion desirable,
and is already done in several other districts.
The cases of epidemic diarrhoea were much
fewer than in the previous year, due to the
absence of prolonged heat. I think that a still
further reduction would be effected by the
appointment of a female sanitary inspector, as in
some other districts, who should specially attend
to houses and families in which there are young
infants, as it is among these that the mortality is
so great.
I have reported on 6 samples of well water
submitted to me by the Sanitary Inspector, with
the result that 4 of these were found to contain
recent sewage. These were all suitably dealt
with without legal proceedings.
I have made 16 bacteriological examinations
for diphtheria bacilli for various medical men in the