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11
SICKNESS AMONGST THE POOR.
The cases coming under the treatment of the district medical officers in
connection with the poor law dispensary during 1909 numbered 5,261, as compared
with 4,453 in 1908, 4,380 in 1907, 4,107 in 190G, and 4,014 in 1905. The
number, therefore, is markedly above the average for the previous four years.
An analysis of the cases is contained in Table VIII. (Appendix). The diseases
classed as infectious accounted for 945 of the cases, as compared with 707 in
1908 and 763 in 1907. Measles, influenza, whooping cough, diarrhoea,
erysipelas, and consumption caused most of these cases. As compared with
the figures for 1908, there are marked increases in the numbers of cases of
measles, whooping cough, diarrhoea, and erysipelas. Decreases are noticeable
as regards scarlatina, diphtheria and influenza. Diseases of the respiratory
organs, which are largely the results of infection, were responsible for 1,444
of the cases as compared with 1,268 for 1908, a very notable increase. Of
these bronchitis was credited with 1,279, whilst 102 were attributed
to pneumonia. Rheumatism was given as the cause of illness in 355 cases,
an increase of 20 on the figure for 1908. The cases of rheumatic fever
numbered 47, as compared with 32 for last year. The cases of gout numbered
104, which is also an increase on the number for last year. Dyspepsia and
other disorders of the digestive system numbered 629, an increase of 180 on the
figures for the previous year. The cases of cancer numbered 36, as compared
with 14 in 1908, 20 in 1907, 43 in 1906, 37 in 1905, 27 in 1904, 30 in 1903, 12 in
1902, 31 in 1901, 33 in 1900, 18 in 1899, 9 in 1898, 15 in 1897, 21 in 1896,
15 in 1895, 27 in 1894, and 23 in 1893. A marked increase in the number of
cases of disease of the locomotive system is noticeable, and the same may also
be said as regards diseases of the skin.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
1 he infectious diseases included under the headings numbered 1 to 35
inclusive and 171 in Table VI. (Appendix) resulted in 676 deaths as compared
with 622 in 1908, 747 in 1907, 776 in 1906, 717 in 1905, 791 in 1904, 762 in
1903, 767 in 1902, and 762 in 1901. The deaths from these diseases were,
therefore, although more numerous than in 1908, considerably below the
average for the previous eight years. They amounted to 30.8 per cent. of the
deaths from all causes as compared with 30.7 for 1908, and 31.5 per cent.
for 1907. As compared with the figures for 1908 there was a marked increase
in the number of death's from measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria, whilst
the number of deaths from scarlet fever, diarrhoea, and consumption show a
decrease. The deaths from consumption and other forms of tuberculosis
amounted to approximately 41 per cent. of the deaths from infectious disease,