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15
the rain-water from the roof, are directly connected with the drain
at the foot. Occasionally a syphon trap is interposed, but this is of
little use, as in dry weather the water seal of the trap rapidly
evaporates, and direct communication is established. The hopper
heads of these stack pipes are frequently close to the tops of bedroom
windows, and when these windows are opened, foul air from the drain
is drawn into the room, to the manifest deterioration of the health of
the sleeper, who wonders how it is that he wakes up in the morning
unrefreshed, and suffering from headache and a foul tongue.
Occasionally he gets a sore throat, and if the dose of poisonous air
be strong enough, he may get Diphtheria.
The remedy for this condition of things is very simple. The pipe
should be cut off at the foot, and made to discharge over a syphon
yard gulley, thus interposing an air break as well as a water seal
between the rainwater pipe and the drain.
WHOOPING COUGH. MEASLES.
(Decennial average, 135.9.) (Decennial average, 90.)
The number of 128 deaths was recorded from measles; indeed, this
disease and Whooping Cough are usually by far the most fatal in the
Zymotic group. Last year, however, the deaths from Whooping
Cough were far below the average, as only 42 were registered. I
believe that this low mortality was in part attributable to the mild
winter; for excessively cold weather always aggravates the Bronchitis
which accompanies Whooping Cough.
In both these diseases we are almost powerless to check contagion,
for in Measles the most infective period is the febrile stage, before
the appearance of the rash, and therefore before the medical
attendant is able to decide what is the nature of the illness; whilst
in Whooping Cough the infective condition continues so long after
subsidence of the acute symptoms that the child appears quite well
and only suffers from occasional paroxysms of cough. The parents
think the child is all right, and permit it to mix with other children,
to whom the infection is frequently conveyed.
DIARRHŒA.
(Decennial average, 117.)
The same equable temperature which, in the case of a mild winter,
reduces the mortality from respiratory disease, brings down that from