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70
Enteric Fever.
1911.
Average of
previous 10 years.
N umber of Cases
13
39
Number of Deaths
2
6
Death rate per 1,000, Deptford
0.02
0.05
This disease has been endemic in the borough for many
years. There has been no serious outbreak of the disease
during the last ten years, and only once in that time have we
had as many as 40 cases notified in the one year.
During the past year we had 13 cases notified, as compared
with 24 cases in 1910, 33 in 1909. This year therefore
was exceptional, as showing the lowest number on record of
cases notified from this disease.
The prevalence of this disease is generally considered an
index of the sanitary state of a district, and such a small
number of cases in so densely populated a town is an indication
of a good sanitary condition as regards its water carriage system,
sewage, drainage, etc. It also indicates that Deptford has a
good pure water supply, which is indeed the case.
Two deaths were attributed to this disease during the year,
compared with 4,6, and 6 in the preceding three years; one
death was registered as having occurred outside the borough.
As it is so obviously necessary in the patient's interest to
secure a speedy recognition of the condition with a view to
recovery, so is it necessary to avoid the terrible disabilities
incurred by "carriers" when their condition becomes known.
As it is in the public interest that those who are "carriers"
should be recognised as such, and as there is no legal power to
obtain this information we have to secure it by voluntary cooperation
between the medical attendant, patient and the public
health authority.
Upon the recovery or removal of a patient the necessary
disinfection has been carried out, consisting of the stripping
and limewashing of the infected room after fumigation, and of