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25
Leaflets setting forth these facts are widely distributed, especially in the
poorer districts.
The fact that the number of deaths from the diarrhceal diseases in 1912 was so
comparatively small, even after allowance is made for the effect of climatic conditions,
is no doubt largely traceable to the educational work referred to above.
Some part of the credit, and probably a considerable part of being able to show
26 deaths as against 35 in any of the previous 4 years, is due to the general
improvement in sanitation which has taken place in the Borough.
The activity which the Council has for some time shown, and is continuing to
show in connection with public health, has undoubtedly had an effect. Street
cleansing and washing, flushing of gullies and sewers, more frequent removal of house
refuse, improvements in housing under the Public Health and Housing Acts, all
duties seriously taken up and carried out, have all directly tended to improve the
chances of every baby born in the Borough to escape infection with the dirt germs of
diarrhoea.
It is safe to say that they have acted indirectly also, and proof is not wanting
that the more active the Public Health Department becomes, the more active property
owners also become. The influence exerted, and the example offered by both of these
bodies, must, indeed have had an effect upon the occupants of houses, inducing them
to give more attention to cleanliness, and to try to keep clean the houses that have
been made clean or improved.
Zymotic Diseases, Phthisis, etc. and Respiratory Diseases.

In 1911, except in the case of the respiratory diseases, all the figures were much
higher.
Zymotic Diseases.
The decrease in the number of deaths from the diseases included in this
group (small pox, measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough, diphtheria and membranous
croup, typhus, enteric and and continued fevers, diarrhoea and enteritis) is very marked,
from 203 to 99.
The death rate fell from 172 in 1911 to 0'90 per 1,000 in 1912.