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19
all premises where the disease occurred, the drains were tested,
for although it is impossible to say that the disease is caused
by the inhalation of sewer gases, it is undoubtedly the lact
that where drains are defective and sewer gases enter dwelling
houses, the normal standard of the vitality of all individuals is
much reduced, and so persons living under these conditions
are more susceptible to this disease. In 327 instances the
drains were tested, 92 of which were found to be defective.
In these cases prompt measures were taken to have them
remedied.
In one case of diphtheria which occurred in a house in Oxford
Street, Stepney, it was ascertained that the bedding used by the
patient had been removed and pawned without first being disinfected;
this matter was brought to the notice of the Vestry
who directed a summons to be taken out against the offending
person. Your officer attended at the police-court, and after
proving the case the magistrate said this was a very serious
offence, and the officers of the Vestry were quite right in
bringing the matter before him; he would, however, take
into consideration the fact of defendant being in custody for
some days previously, and would bind defendant over in
recognizances to come up for judgment when called upon.
In another case of the disease, the patient, who was being
treated at the London Hospital, wilfully walked through the
streets to her home, without waiting for the ambulance, and
although she had been warned of the consequences; the matter
was brought to the notice of the Sanitary Committee who
administered a caution.
Typhoid or Enteric Fever.
There has been no serious epidemic of this disease in this
district during 1897, the number of cases being 82, and as will
be seen from the chart they did not occur in any particular
month of the year or in any particular part of the district. I
regret to say that the case mortality per cent, was by far the
largest of any year since 1890, it being 27.7, which clearly
shows that the disease must have been of a severe type
As with diphtheria the drains of infected premises were tested,
and in 20 cases were found defective.