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5
Deaths in Institutions.
There were 616 deaths in public institutions and in other places
outside the Borough. The increased and increasing proportion of deaths
recorded in institutions has been, and is, a very prominent feature in the
statistics of recent years. Whether such feature is altogether satisfactory
is open to question. It implies that the sick are more ready to take
advantage of the opportunity afforded to them of obtaining the most
skilled treatment, but, on the other hand, it is also an indication of a
growing disinclination to care for the sick in their homes, the causes of
which cannot be dealt with in this report. It has, however, to be
recognised that there is now a tendency to urge isolation treatment
for many diseases for which isolation was not thought necessary in
the past.
Infantile Mortality.
The infantile mortality for the year was low and in striking contrast
with the rates recorded ten to fifteen years ago. Diarrhœa still claims
many victims amongst children, but there was some improvement in the
year under consideration as will be seen by referring to other reports.
The infantile death rate for 1914 was 99 per 1,000 births compared
with 113 per 1,000 for the previous year.
Infectious Diseases.
During 1914 the following diseases were unduly prevalent, viz.,
Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever and Measles. There were 253 cases of
Diphtheria with 25 deaths, against 247 cases and 20 deaths for the
previous year, and the cases were again more prevalent in the North,
North-West and East Wards. There were 866 cases of Scarlet Fever
notified, which complaint was generally prevalent throughout the
Borough, but there were only nine deaths, thus showing the value of
institutional care, for most of these cases are treated in hospital.
There were slightly fewer cases of Measles than in the previous year,
497 cases being notified to me from various sources; but there were
again 50 deaths.
Tuberculosis.
During the past year much attention has been paid to cases of
Tuberculosis among residents in the Borough, for the benefit of those
affected and as a means of preventing infection to others. 419 cases
have been notified during the year, being 165 less than in the previous
year.