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ascribed thereto compares very favourably with the 35 deaths
which occurred from the same disease in the previous twelve
months.
Sporadic. The deaths from this class of disease have been
extremely few in number, only one being ascribed to Tetanus, or
as it is commonly called, Lock-jaw. This is an ailment due
to a specific infection supposed to be derived from infected
soil, which is inoculated into the tissues of the body at the time
of occurrence of any accident; and such appeared to be the cause
in this case, for the apparently trifling accident of running a rusty
nail into the foot was sufficient to at the same time inoculate the
tissues with the germs of this disease, which soon made itself
apparent, and occasioned death.
Another of this class of disease, viz., Glanders, has not been
the occasion of any death in the district, but certain medical men
who were called in to attend patients whose occupation brought
them into contact with hides and skins at the Cattle Market,
ascribed their illness to Glanders, which was doubtless derived
from contact with the hides and skins mentioned above. This
disease was also spread to many members of the patients' families,
and in all some 10 persons were reported to me as being affected
with this disease.
Venereal. Syphilis. This disease has occasioned 5 deaths
during the year, 4 of them being in patients under the age of five
years and 1 over that age.
Septic. Puerperal Fever, which is included under this
head, has caused 4 deaths, 2 in East Greenwich, 1 in West
Greenwich, and 1 in Charlton, giving a death rate for the whole of
the Borough of 0.04 per 1,000.