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low compared with previous years. From a public health point of
view the figures are eminently satisfactory. The cause of such
favourable results is, amongst other circumstances, closely connected
with the meteorological conditions which prevailed during the
greater part of the year 1903. The mean temperature for the months
of June, July and August, the months of high temperature, was very
low being only 60.4°. The mean temperature for the months
January, February and December was 42.9°, this being much higher
than the average for winter months. Extremes of temperature have
a prejudicial effect upon public health. Extreme heat, by facilitating
the rapid putrefaction of organic matter, leads to fatal intestinal
disease in the very young and the aged. Extreme cold attacks the
same individuals at the extremes of life, especially if poverty
is combined with these extremes, producing fatal lung disease;
so that the moderate temperature of last year has had a beneficial
effect upon the general health of the Borough by sparing the
lives of the very young and the aged. The abnormal rainfall has
also had a beneficial effect upon the public health. It is difficult to
estimate even approximately the effect of excessive rainfall apart from
other meteorological phenomena upon the public health; but the
excessive rain, no doubt, helped to keep the mean temperature of the
earth low during the summer months, and also helped to wash away
from the streets, drains and sewers, organic matter which otherwise
would have decomposed and prejudicially affected health. It is also
probable, that the washing of the atmosphere by repeated falls of rain
freed it from pathogenic organisms. Apart from atmospheric
conditions the efforts of the Public Health staff have, in my
opinion, contributed to the satisfactory health report for the year.
The removal of nuisances prejudicial to health from occupied
dwellings and their neighbourhood, the isolation of infectious cases, the
removal of infectious cases to hospital, the disinfection and cleansing
of infected articles and dwellings, the regular removal of house
refuse, the general supervision of the schools of the Borough in their
relation to infectious disease, not to mention less obvious, but still
important work of the Public Health Department, have contributed
to the improvement of general health of the Borough during 1903.