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99
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Although the mortality from Diarrhoea and Zymotic Enteritis
was greater than in 1907, yet it was much under the average, and
without taking the increase of population into consideration, the
total number of deaths was less in only three years of the decennium,
viz. :—1902, 1903, and 1907. In these years, as in 1908,
climatic conditions were not favourable to the disease. In only 31
days of the 92 in the third quarter was the temperature above the
average, and these days were confined to the first and last weeks
of July, the first week in August, and the last 10 days of
September.
Another important factor which has, in my opinion, had a
beneficial effect, was the work done by the female Sanitary
Inspectors, and although this cannot be put in statistical form,
yet, from the reports made to me fortnightly by these Inspectors,
it is evident that their labours have been largely helpful in preventing
the occurrence of these diseases.
In Tooting, which had the highest Diarrhoea mortality, a considerable
amount of supervision is exercised by these Inspectors,
and in that sub-district the mortality has diminished most
markedly; the number of deaths having been reduced from 28 to
18, and the death-rate from .92 to .57.
During the year the female Sanitary Inspectors have continued
the work begun in 1905, in visiting homes where births
occurred, and the following report gives the results of such visits
and a general account of the work carried out:—
"We have the honour of submitting to you a report of
our visits amongst infants during the year 1908.
"It is gratifying to be able to state that we have in a
measure widened the scope of our work, having visited infants
in Putney and Southfield in addition to Tooting, the Fairfield
and Springfield Wards of Wandsworth, and the poorer
parts of Balharn, to which our work was limited in former
years. More second visits, too, have been paid in Tooting
and Wandsworth.