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31
which in sewered districts depending upon water carriage for
the removal of excreta is a matter of great moment; removal of
organic matters being retarded until the interval necessary for
decomposition has elapsed, which seems to be the time when
the gases of such decomposition occasion some at least of the
zymotic diseases, either by such products of decomposition
themselves acting as zymotic poisons, or by acting as vehicles
or carriers for disease germs. Another great evil was that from
defective rain-fall the River Thames was in a very offensive
condition, containing a very large proportion of sewage
matter, a circumstance which could not fail to be injurious to
the public health and tend to diarrhceal affections.
Measles caused death in 92 instances. This affection was
extremely prevalent in the sub-district during the whole
year, and never before have so large a number of deaths been
registered from this cause.
Whooping Cough is the next most fatal of the Epidemic
diseases and often follows Measles. The large number of 60
deaths were recorded from this disease. It may be remembered
of the two latter diseases that ordinary sanitary
measures have but little influence in their prevention, that
they arise from direct infection, and that the fatal cases
indicate an enormous number of attacks, as the percentage
of mortality is but small.
Enteric Fever caused death in twenty-three instances and
a severe type of simple continued Fever was fatal in two
cases. There were no fatal cases of Typhus.
Scarlatina is credited with seventeen deaths, the same
number as in the preceding year, and very much below the
average number of fatal cases.
Croup caused death in ten instances and Diphtheria in
seven. Many cases registered as from Croup are probably
really cases of Diphtheria of the air passages. The numbers
are about the normal.