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83
[1899
these yards continue to be a danger, and, unfortunately, an ever
increasing danger to the public, for they will necessarily become
more foul as time advances. It is time strong measures were
adopted to put an end to them. The sanitary authority possesses
the power, for it has made by-laws which have been duly sanctioned
by the Local Government Board, under which it can compel owners
to pave these insanitary places with an impervious pavement, which,
properly sloped to gullies, will allow all water to flow freely away.
I am sure when the sanitary authorities and property owners once
grasp the facts they will be quite willing to provide impervious
yards to all houses that are let out in tenements, and thereby safeguard
the tenants from the ills that I have mentioned.
WHOOPING COUGH.
The deaths attributed to this disease numbered 160, which are
8 fewer than were registered in the preceding year, and 40 less than
the corrected average of the preceding 14 years. The 160 deaths
represent an annual death-rate of 0.46 per 1,000, which is 0.08
higher than the Metropolitan rate, and also than that of the
Encircling Districts. In the 33 Great Towns it was 0.38 per 1,000,
in the 67 Other Large Towns 0.32, and in Rural England and
Wales 0.25 per 1,000.
Locally, the heaviest incidence of the disease was experienced
in the Sub-District of Islington South West, where 73 deaths
produced a death-rate of 0.67 per 1,000, while it was least felt in
Upper Holloway, where 35 deaths represented a death-rate of 0.34
per 1,000. The deaths in Highbury numbered 25, equal to a
death-rate of 0.37, and in Islington South East 27, producing a
death-rate of 0.40.
Of the total deaths from the disease 66, or 41.2 per cent.,
occurred among infants under 12 months old, and 88, or 55.0 per
cent., among children between that age and five, and 5, or 3.1 per
cent., between five and fifteen. One person's death was registered
as over thirty-live years old.