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17
formed the operation on 205 children only during the past year,
which is less than one-third of the number born in the same period;
and it has been ascertained that by no means another third have
been protected by the other practitioners residing in the subdistrict;
so that, even after due allowance is made for the number
of infants dying before the time that vaccination is usually resorted
to, it may be safely assumed that fully one-third of the children
living under one year of age remain unprotected, and possibly very
many adults.
Measles was scarcely observed amongst the poor in this parish in
the past year, and scarlatina decreased one-half from the year
preceding. Diarrhoea and dysentery increased as regards the
number of cases treated over that of the previous year, in the
proportion of three to one, without any very manifest increase of
mortality.
Diseases of the respiratory organs decreased from the previous
year at least one third, though they still furnish a somewhat
formidable portion of the deaths exhibited in the mortality table
inserted above.
SUDDEN AND VIOLENT DEATHS—INQUESTS.
There were but fourteen inquests held in this parish during the
year, of which three only were returned to the local registrar as
having been cases of 'violent death'; but as medical evidence does
not appear to have been made, as it unquestionably ought to be,
a feature of the majority of these inquiries, it is feared that
increased vigilance in either the prevention or detection of crime
has not been the result of the recent alterations introduced as to
the payment of Coroners and other arrangements.
INSPECTIONS MADE, AND SANITARY WORK ACCOMPLISHED DURING
THE YEAR.
The inspection of houses and premises, as well as the complaints
of nuisances investigated by the Surveyor and myself, have been
rather less numerous in the past year than in 1860. A large
amount of other sanitary work (see Table VI., Appendix) in the
way of cleansing and improving drains, open ditches, &c., &c., has
also been accomplished, and the water closets constructed, cesspools
emptied, and drains connected with sewers, have been decidedly
more numerous than in 1860.
A most satisfactory feature of this table, as it applies to this
parish, is the absence of any mention of magisterial interference
during the year to enforce compliance with the orders of your
Board.