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that the separate effect of each upon health is difficult to trace. Soil humidity has,
however, considerable effect in producing consumption, bronchitis and rheumatism,
it can also be linked with absence of healthy colour and lack of energy.
Again, sub-soil water is an essential condition in the production of the
mosquito pest, which is especially harmful if the sub-soil water is stagnant.
In reading this I wish the members of the Council to bear in mind its
relation to the manner in which storm water is at present dealt with over the area.
As long ago as 1913 the attention of the Council was called to the unsatisfactory
method of drainage, the area rely ing upon ditches and water courses for
the removal of surplus water. In the majority of instances these become silted up
and are of no service, becoming excellent breeding places for mosquitoes as
instanced in the stagnant pools dotted over the district.
At this date in parts of the district a stormwater sewer has been constructed
and where it is in existence there is a noticeable absence of the damp surroundings
prevalent where it is non-existent.
The dampness is a fertile cause of Rheumatism and increases considerably
the cases of Tuberculosis of the lungs, of which disease the number of cases
notified during the year under review is larger than in any previous year.
Unfortunately the district is very flat and the removal of surplus rainwater
a problem, but I am emphaticallv of the opinion that an effective system would do
much to lessen the sickness of which dampness is a predisposing cause.
There were no special noteworthy causes of sickness during the year.
Following are the classified causes of the sixty-eight deaths which occurred
in the district. As will be seen from the comparative table, the Birth Rate is
above and the Death Rate below that of the average for ihe Smaller Towns of
England and Wales.
Ihe Infantile Mortality Rate again shows a rise, it being 61.7 per thousand
births compared with 23.6 in 1923 and 46.7 in 1924.
I aken as a whole the Vital Statistics for 1925 compare favourably with
those of preceding years.