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86
Health of the District during the September Quarter.
A burst of scarlet fever occurred during the first week
of August, which rapidly subsided, the cases falling a little
below the average. Similarly during August and September
diphtheria threatened to become epidemic, but is at the
present moment well below the average.
Notwithstanding the hot weather there has been less
fatal diarrhoea among infants than usual. The average
number of deaths during the previous ten years from
diarrhoea was 74, the maximum 146 (1899), minimum 47.
The deaths from diarrhoea during the past thirteen weeks
amount to 67, which is a number well below the average.
Prosecutions under the Public Health (London) Act.
Mr. Benjamin, of Mortimer Street, was summoned for
causing work to be executed without giving notice or
depositing plans for certain sanitary work, and also for
executing the work contrary to the bye laws. The defendant
was fined £2, with 12s. 6d. costs, on both counts.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
Forty samples of milk were examined during the
quarter. In no case were preservatives detected, but two
of the samples of milk were adulterated, and the cases are
sub judice.
A large number of canned and bottled goods were
examined, nearly all of them being test samples, and, therefore,
not divided according to the Act. A detailed report,
giving the results of the examination, has been presented to
the Public Health Committee.
The goods, according to the labels, were, for the most
part, derived from the States, more particularly in the case
of corned beef, brawns and meats, generally from the
canning establishments of Chicago, a few were from English
firms and the Colonies. It may be stated generally that by
far the greater portion of these canned goods were of
excellent quality and perfectly fit for food, but some of