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37
The total number of cases notified was 122 for the present year as
against 193 for 1902.
The percentage of deaths to the total cases notified was 18.8.
The annual mortality per 1,000 living was .11.
Deaths from Enteric Fever for the last ten years—
1894 21 1899 32
1895 23 1900 39
1896 26 1901 18
1897 21 1902 23
1898 20 1903 23
Of the 122 cases notified as many as 105 were removed to hospital,
with 19 deaths, a mortality of 18 per cent.
17 cases were treated at home, with 3 deaths, a mortality of 17'6
per cent.
The percentage of cases removed to hospital to the total number
notified was 86 0.
Every case was carefully inquired into. Iu quite a fourth of the
cases the evidence was so strong in favour of shellfish being the cause
that it could not be reasonably discarded. In one group of cases the
shellfish was purchased from a particular stall.
One of the group, a woman, who had not eaten oysters for many
months, having a craving for some, ate half a dozen, and in ten days fell
with Enteric and died.
DIARRHÆA.
The deaths during the year from this disease were 197, as against
169 for 1902, and 222 for 1901. This decrease in the mortality, when the
average for the last ten years is considered, is due to a continuance of the
cold summers we have experienced for the last three years. The deaths
from Diarrhaea have been excessive in St. Michael's, St. John's, and St.
George's Wards. The abjectly dirty condition of much of the population
of these districts, and the utter disregard of the most elementary rules of
health, personal or otherwise, account for much of this excess of the
disease. There is also operating in the Borough the miserably unsatisfactory
way many of the children are fed. Fortunately, a large number
of children are breast fed, otherwise the mortality would be enormous
among infants. The cheapest brands of condensed milk, and even
skimmed milk, are widely used as the only food for babies. The Council