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There are a few outbreaks recorded in which the infection
appears to have been borne on dust particles, but it is doubtless
most generally conveyed by water, milk, or shell-fish, and, when
there is already a case in the house, by infected hands, linen, and food.
Of the 38 cases notified during the year, 36 occurred in different
houses, in 7 of which there were grave insanitary conditions; in 5
the insanitary conditions were slight, and in the remaining 24 there
were no insanitary conditions; 4 of the cases were doubtless
imported, and 5 were ascribed, by the sufferers, to the eating of
oysters.
MEASLES AND WHOOPING COUGH.
During the year there was a considerable outbreak of Measles
and Whooping Cough in the Church Ward. Although the outbreak
occasioned a great deal of sickness there was but little increase in
the annual mortality from these two complaints. This circumstance
is largely attributable to the fact that the outbreak occurred at a
period of the year when the climatic conditions were very favourable
to the sufferers; but it may be partly the result of the distribution of
handbills of advice dealing with the simple precautionary measures
which should be taken to ward off a fatal issue from these two complaints.
It was not thought necessary to close any school, as the number
of absentees from Measles and Whooping Cough from any one school
scarcely warranted such a step, and the summer vacation was
near to hand; but, thanks to the co-operation of the head
teachers, I was able to learn from day to day of the number of
absentees from the two complaints, and of their addresses, and the
Sanitary Committee santioned the measure of distributing handbills of
advice and caution along every street in which I learnt that a case
existed.
Although it is not easy, owing to the peculiar nature of the
disease, for parents to always successfully ward off attacks from thenchildren,
it is so easy, with a little knowledge, to ensure that the