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41
These two wards have a bad reputation in regard to excessive
infantile mortality, especially from the zymotic diseases. They head the
list in Measles, Whooping Cough and Diarrhæa.
As I have so often pointed out in my annual report much of the
mortality from these three diseases arises from the ignorance, carelessness,
and dirty habits of the inhabitants of those wards.
Printed instructions have as usual been distributed throughout the
Borough as to the feeding of infants, the management of cases of Measles
and Whooping Cough and various other matters.
The annual death-rate per 1,000 living was 0.92.
Deaths from Measles during the last ten years:—
1895 198 1900 116
1896 192 1901 161
1897 184 1902 164
1898 145 1903 83
1899 171 1904 191
WHOOPING COUGH.
The deaths from this disease were 118, as against 68, 114 and 98 for
the three preceding years.
The wards of St. George, St. Michael, and All Saints, in the order
named, head the list of mortality.
The annual rate per 1,000 living was 0.57.
Deaths from Whooping Cough for the last ten years:—
1895 122 1900 120
1896 140 1901 98
1897 126 1902 114
1898 93 1903 68
1899 146 1904 118
SMALL-POX.
During the year 1904, 28 cases of Small-pox were notified. There was
one death in a male, aged 62 years, an inmate of Christchurch Workhouse.
There was no particular interest in connection with any of the cases.
The disease showed no disposition to spread beyond the house in which
the case occurred.
All contacts were immediately vaccinated and when disinfection was
completed were allowed to resume their ordinary work.
Deaths from Small-nox during the last ten Years:—
1895 4 1900 —
1896 1 1901 14
1897 1 1902 78
1898 — 1903 —
1899 — 1904 1