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No deaths have resulted from small pox, measles, scarlet
fever or diphtheria. This is most satisfactory as these are
the diseases with the exception of measles, which are most
directly under sanitary control.
Whooping Cough and Diarrhoea were as usual the two
most fatal zymotic diseases among children. The first of
these is communicated directly from one child to another
and practically the sanitary authority is powerless to do
much to prevent it. Diarrhœa was prevalent almost
exclusively during the summer months. Most cases are due
to want of sufficient care in the feeding of children.
Fermentation of milk very rapidly occurs in hot weather
with the development of toxic products. These set up
intestinal irritation after being taken into the system.
The best and most simple method of preventing this is by
boiling the milk immediately after delivery.
Enteric Fever. —There was one fatal case of this disease
during the year. There is every reason to believe that
the victim caught the infection outside the district.
Notifications.
Small Pox.—No cases occurred during the year.
Scarlatina.—No deaths were registered from this cause.
Fifty cases were notified and of these 28 were removed
to hospital. Seven of these cases occurred among children
under five years of age and 21 over that age.
Diphtheria.—Seventeen cases were notified with no fatal
results. In at least three of these cases, I was able to
distinctly trace the cause to defective drains. These three
cases occurred in one house aud were not the result of
direct infection communicated from one to the other.
They did not occur simultaneously, but the second was
struck down after the first had recovered. It was found