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facilities for curing a bodily disease should be barred to any who is
of intemperate habits.
A matter of some interest is the difference between the notifications
of 1914 and 1915 in the way of sex incidence. Out of 723
primary notifications on Form A there were 360 males, while in
1914 out of 693 there were 409 males, and it is in the age periods
20-25, 25-35, and 35-45 that the difference is most marked. The
non-pulmonary forms do not show so clear an alteration in this sex
incidence.
During the year extra duties were thrown on the department
through the necessity for inspecting the billets of soldiers in
Camberwell, particularly those who belonged to the R.F.A.,
Camberwell Brigade. As a rule, the sanitary conditions were
very good, but in a few instances overcrowding existed. The visiting
occasionally to Gordon's Brewery, which was used as the
headquarters, also necessitated a considerable amount of work,
although much had been done by the Borough Engineer in providing
modern sanitary appliances.
In June, 1915, the Committee advised that a circular be issued
with regard to infantile diarrhoea, and in this circular was incorporated
some information as to the prevention of flies. It is to be
feared, however, that to the class who are most in need of instruction
in such matters a circular does not appeal; and whether it
does any more good than to afford a little interesting information to
a few well-meaning people seems doubtful.
Early in the year a letter was received from the Hackney
Borough Council asking for this Council's support in order to
initiate legislation to prohibit the sale of wearing apparel from
rag-shops and for preventing the sale of filthy and verminous
second-hand clothing. To prohibit the sale of second-hand clothing
from rag-shops seems to be too drastic a measure ; and unless there
is overwhelming proof of its being a factor of importance, and even
if legislation in this direction were instftuted as Hackney desires,
practical difficulties, to say nothing of the hardship in enforcing it,
would be likely to render it useless. It is difficult to fix on secondclothing
as being the cause of the re-infection of verminous children.
There is no doubt but that in some instances there are such articles
purchased by the parents; but it is also certain that the great
majority of cases of secondary infection occur among people who
are not only poor but dirty and careless, and who are likely to buy
clothing of this description either on account of its giving less
trouble or its being cheaper.
To compare re-infections in this class with those who purchase
second-hand clothes, and are attacked by scarlet fever or diphtheria,
does not seem to be altogether fair; for, although it is possible that
the children of both classes may attend the same elementary
schools, the habits and conditions of the first are far more diverse
than those of the second.
The Inspectors have further reported to me that in their
enquiries regarding the purchase of this clothing, there has been