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1912]
80
ENTERIC FEVER.
The eight deaths entered against this disease is the smallest number
hitherto registered in any one year in the Borough, as may be seen in Table
XXXIV.
The average number of deaths in the several quinquennial periods since
1886 has been as follows:—
1886—1890 53 1901—1905 30
1891—1895 37 1906—1910 15
1896—1900 44
Thus we see that there has been an almost continuous decline in the
deaths from Enteric Fever since the year 1885.
There is hardly any factor in the general mortality of the Borough, the
diminution of which is so pleasant to record as that of Enteric Fever, which has
always been considered the worst of filth diseases. One cannot, however,
close his eyes to the fact that whatever effect the improved sanitary state
of the Borough may have had in the reduction of the disease, it must be
admitted that the unusual meteorological conditions during the last four or
five years have also had their influence. Nevertheless there can be no doubt
that the great improvement which has occurred everywhere in the country
in sanitation has played a large part in reducing the disease.
It should be stated that the number of cases of Enteric Fever has also
considerably fallen, for whereas in no year between 1891, when the notification
of infectious diseases was commenced, and 1905 were fewer than 100 cases
notified; indeed, in some years they were as high as 281, while during the
last six years the highest number recorded did not reach 100, while it has been
as low as 49.
It would be well if the virulence of the disease had decreased at the same
time, but unfortunately it did not, for it is practically as high to-day as it was
in 1891-1900, when it averaged 16.9 per cent. of the cases, while last year
and the year before it was 16.4 and 16.3 respectively.