View report page

34
in "very bad." In South Paddington the 7 cases were
divided between "bad" (5), and "very bad" (2). It
would have been better to have ascertained the
frequency of the disease in relation to the totals of each
class of houses, but such information is not at present
available. The results here set out indicate that there is a
greater probability of cases occurring in "bad" than
in "good" houses, and justifies the demand for the
reconstruction of defective drainage. This view was
adopted at the last International Congress of Hygiene
and Demography, when the following resolution was
(among others) adopted:—
That special measures should be taken in the construction of houses
to prevent the access of ground air and moisture to the floors and walls.
That house drains should be arranged so as to avoid stagnation of
their contents and to secure a rapid flow to the street sewer. They
should be impervious to liquids and gases, freely and continuously
ventilated, and provided with syphon traps to prevent the access of foul
air to the houses, (Madrid Congress, 1898.)
Of the 76 cases reported, 55 were removed to
hospital, equal to 72.3 per cent., as compared with
percentages of 43.8, 37.1, 51.6, and 51.1 in the years
1894-97. Of children under five years of age, 85.7
per cent. went to hospital, and of patients at older
ages, 71.1. Of patients residing in North Paddington,
77.7 per cent. went to hospital, and those residing in
South, 46.1.