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106
be seen that the annual average number of deaths in the
Metropolis during the ten years 1875 —84, from Smallpox
was 1,038, from Measles, 2,236, and from Whooping
Cough, 3,260.
In support of the procedure adopted in this sub-district
I would refer to the opinion of that eminent authority,
Dr. Buchanan, the Medical Adviser to the Local Government
Board, thus expressed: "I should unquestionably
"rank Measles among the diseases that people should
"strive to control by the use of atmospheric disinfectants
"as well as by ordinary methods of ventilation and
"cleansing. The disease is indeed one that is particularly
"apt to spread through the air from person to person,
"and any measures for destroying its infectiveness should
"certainly be applied, among other ways, to the atmo"
sphere of infected houses."
The simple, cheap, and effective application of sulphur
fumigation against the spread of infective diseases, is,
without doubt, one of the most successful of all the
sanitary operations of the Board, and cannot, it is submitted,
be dispensed with in reference to Measles without
disregarding the security of infant life.
In addition to the proceedings set forth in the table,
all the bakehouses in the sub-district have been periodically
inspected, and the slaughter-houses and cow-houses,
as usual, examined and their condition reported as satisfactory
previous to the granting or renewal of their
owners' licenses. Many serious nuisances, also, that
formed the subjects of special Reports, were dealt with,
the details of which occupied much time and attention
in their disposal, such as the pollution of the River
Wandle and Boundary ditch by the sewage from the
farm of the Croydon Rural Sanitary Authority; the