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2
Taking the increase of population into consideration, and the greater facilities
granted by the Board of Trustees to all poor persons desirous of obtaining
medical relief, the number of cases entered on the books of the Medical Staff
cannot be regarded as excessive. It was within two of the number entered in
the corresponding weeks of 1856. It is to be observed that measles, hoopingcough,
and fever have all been more prevalent than in March; and, in fact,
that there has been a considerable increase in the cases of zymotic diseases,
taken as a class. As many as 5 cases of ague, a disease arising in connection
with marsh miasma, came under the notice of the medical officers. I have
inquired into the circumstances under which the disease arose, and find that
in every instance the patient had been exposed, during part of the Summer
and Autumn of last year, to the influence of malaria in the agueish parts of
Essex or Kent. In 3 of the cases, however, no symptoms of ague were
observed until shortly before they applied for medical aid in this parish, a period
of seven months having elapsed. The cases of acute pulmonary disease have
been only one-half of the number which were entered in March.
With respect to Table 2, which has undergone a modification in accordance
with the re-distribution of the Medical Districts by the Board of Trustees, I
must observe, that although the names of the several wards are attached to
them, the districts assigned to the medical gentlemen do not correspond
strictly with the wards as defined for the purposes of the Local Management
Act.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health•
42, Myddelton Square,
May 6th, 1858.