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192 8
4
There was an increase in the number of deaths from
Diphtheria. Six of the seven deaths occurred in the first half
of the year. The increased mortality was due to the occurrance
of cases of exceptional virulence and not to any marked increase
in the number of cases. The notified cases numbered 78 compared
with 69 in 1927.
There were 4 cases of Small-Pox of the mild variety.
Fortunately the disease did not spread though 3 of the cases
occurred in a Common Lodging House.
A very successful Health Week was held in October. As
usual, one of the features of the Week was the Exhibition,
which was officially opened by the Mayor (Alderman Middleton,
j.p.) on Monday, October 15th and remained open throughout the
week. In most instances the Health Exhibition is popular, but
the most satisfactory feature was the great popularity of the
Lectures and Demonstrations. The Committee were fortunate
to obtain the services as lecturers of some of the highest
authorities on their particular subjects and it was gratifying that
in almost every instance the Hall was full of interested hearers.
Every morning the exhibition was visited in turns by pupils
from the different schools in the Borough, and during the week
thousands of people visited the Grand Hall of the Baths. The
Health Week and the Exhibition were voted by all to be an
unqualified success.
During the year a Sub-Committee was appointed to
consider the question of a Maternity Home. Several places were
visited and maternity homes inspected, but the passage of the
Local Government Act of 1928, and other developments in
connection with the removal of a large maternity hospital
influenced the Committee to postpone any action in the matter.
The industrialisation of the northern part of the district
still continues, and this renders the housing problem a more
difficult one. It is natural that a proportion of the employees in
these factories should desire to live near their work; housing
accommodation becomes difficult and overcrowding occurs.