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8
Scarlet Fever.—The severe epidemic of 1870, which, caused in that year
no less than 465 deaths, (considerably more it will be observed than Small
Pox has caused this year) lingered on through the first quarter of 1871,
causing 35 deaths in Januarj, 20 in February, aud 13 in March; a few
deaths were recorded in each month, amounting to 37 altogether in the six
months from April to September inclusive: late in the autumn it as usual
took a fresh start, and caused 11 deaths in October, 9 in November, and 14
in December; making a total of 139 deaths in the year.
This disease spreads especially in badly ventilated houses. I have
remarked that where there are no back windows and consequently no
through ventilation, it often attacks the whole household. I have known a
case in which it went from house to house all along one side of a street until
it came to a cross street which it could not pass; doubtless one of the
reasons why it is so fatal in the late autumn and winter is to be found in
the fact that the houses are shut up to keep the cold winds out. The moral
of all this is that ventilation, which is at all times necessary, is ten times
more so in a house containing a Scarlet Fever patient, and it must be
remembered that while draughts may be very injurious to the patient, fresh
air immensely increases his chance of recovery. Disinfectants should be
used in the manner indicated in the papers sent out by the Sanitary
Department; and I may add here, that the plan of hanging a sheet across
the doorway of the sick-room and sprinkling it occasionally with Carbolic
Acid, should be resorted to more frequently than it is; it certainly tends to
prevent the spread of tho infection to other parts of the house.
Measles.—Up to the end of September only 17 deaths were registered
from this disease, there being none at all in either March or August, but
like Scarlet Fever it became severe in October, causing 11 deaths in that
month, 22 in November, and 98 in December; thus giving a total of 148
for the year.
Hooping Cough which was epidemic in the early months of the year,
causing 23 deaths in March, and 22 in April, lingered on until November,
when it caused 15 deaths, the fatality still further increasing to 42 in
December; it gave a total of 154 deaths during the year.