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243
To conclude, I venture to submit that a great amount
of preventible infectious disease in the Borough of West
Ham is the direct result of a defective system of sewerage
and ventilation; and that it is the duty of the Town Council
to take immediate action to prevent further sickness and
death; that the Town Council is neglecting this duty and
will do nothing unless compelled by superior authority, and
that in the interests of London as well as of West Ham
it is desirable that such pressure should be applied. I
therefore beg to appeal for your assistance.
I am, dear Sir,
Your humble, obedient Servant,
(Signed) CHAS. A. MATTHEW.
29, Beauchamp Road,
Forest Gate, E.,
6th September, 1899.
It has been seen by my opening statements that the Council by
their instructions to me had already granted the request of the Local
Government Board before it was made, and the following report will
most conveniently satisfy the instructions of the Council and accord
with the desires of the Local Government Board if it treats of its
subject under three heads, namely:—
(1) The zymotic death-rate of West Ham generally.
(2) The circumstances associated with the recent prevalence of
diphtheria.
(3) The action taken by the Medical Officer of Health or the
Council.
The Zymotic Death-rate.
The zymotic death-rate of a district is calculated on the number
of deaths during the year from the seven principal zymotic diseases,
namely, small-pox, measles, scarlatina, diphtheria, whooping-cough,
fever (including typhus fever, enteric fever, and other forms of
continued fever), and diarrhœa.
Q 2