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29
Enteric Fever.—There were 4 deaths from this cause,
14 cases being reported. The decennial average is 5.
Whooping Cough and Measles were the cause of 26 deaths.
This is considerably less than the decennial average
which is 403. Nevertheless the mortality from these
diseases compares very badly with that from Scarlet
Fever or any of the other Zymotic diseases. Parents
require to be impressed with the fact that these are preventable
diseases and until that is more widely recognised
all attempts to isolate will, as now, continue to be neglected.
Diarrhoea was the cause of only 11 deaths the decennial
average being 19.4.
Notification of Infectious Diseases.—The most important
event of the year was the passing of the Act for this purpose,
which came into force in the end of October. It
will be of the greatest value in preventing the spread of
disease, but at present the time is too short to enable us
to speak with experience of its benefits. Medical practitioners
have loyally carried out its provisions, but notification
by householders has almost entirely been neglected.
Disinfection.
Rooms in 84 houses were disinfected after
Zymotic disease by means of Sulphurous Acid. Besides
this, the bedding, hangings, etc. have been disinfected by
heat in those cases where the patients were not immediately
removed to the hospitals. The sum of £19 7s. 3d.
has been expended for this purpose in cases where the
the persons were too poor to pay for it themselves. The
sum of £12 17s. 6d. was spent for the like purpose in
1888.