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powers. Upon this subject I will only further state
that, when some years since I reported to you my conviction
in the existence of innumerable old and
forgotten drains and cesspools (not only in this Hamlet
but universally), impregnating earth and air with
poisonous gases therefrom, I did so in the belief that
they were, by their contents, the absolute causes of the
generic origin of most of these diseases, and my subsequent
experience has completely confirmed this opinion;
it is, therefore, a matter of great satisfaction to me
that you have caused, and are still causing, although at
considerable temporary cost, the discovery and abolition
of these foci of disease, and to which your Surveyor will
doubtless refer in his Report, as they have been mostly
brought under your notice through his department. I
trust that similar means are being, or will be, adopted
in other Districts for this and other practical work of
a like kind, combined with measures for the prevention
of spreading, such as isolation of patients, disinfection
of infected bedding and clothing, inspection of schools,
&c., are the practical means, if effectually carried out,
whereby alone an immediate and decided effect can be
produced, towards suppressing these diseases, otherwise
in defiance of all sanitary laws enacted and to be
enacted, and by which great improvements in the direction
of the public health will be doubtless effected, we
shall still be continually surprised and puzzled by the
spontaneous outbreak of such diseases as scarlet fever,
and, probnbly, where cause for its origin was least suspected.
The kind of work which I have indicated has
been, as far as possible, carried out in this District
during the twelve months, and it is to its effects we
may fairly attribute the diminished mortality from
these diseases.
There are many other diseases not usually recognised
as belonging to the zymotic class, but which I have no