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15
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
No. of Infectious cases during the year, 209. In 1897, 167. In
1896, 165. In 1895, 117.
Action taken to Prevent the Spread of Infectious Disease,
General:
(1) House visited by Sanitary Official as soon as practicable after
the receipt of notification.
(2) Isolation of Patient.
(3) Disinfectants supplied gratis.
(4) Bedding, &c., disinfected by steam (Washington Lyon's
patent) wherever necessary, or in certain cases, burnt.
(5) Houses examined with a view of detecting defects in
drainage, or any other sanitary imperfection.
(6) Printed precautions circulated, and verbal instruction given,
(7) Fumigating, whitewashing, re-papering, and cleansing of
premises, whenever considered necessary.
(8) List of notified cases sent weekly to the managers of schools,
laundries, pawnshops, etc.
(9) Notice at once sent to head masters and managers of schools
(Form of notice in preparation).

Causation and Distribution.—Several minor outbreaks of this
disease have taken place during the past year. The cases have been
strictly isolated, for the most part at the hospital, and the remainder
in their own homes, as will be seen by the preceding table.
Several cases were discovered in a peeling state at school. On one
occasion, by the courtesy of the Chairman of the School Board, I was
permitted to examine the rest of the class, to discover, if possible,
any others in a similar condition.
The cases have throughout been of a very mild character, and
frequently the greatest difficulty has been experienced in diagnosis
Enteric Fever During 1898.
No. of cases notified during the year, 31.
Treated in Hospital, 23.
No. of deaths, 2. Mortality % 6.2.
Causation and Distribution.—From the subjoined list it will be seen
in what locality the disease occurred and its probable cause.
17 cases were associated with defective drains; 1 was connected
with the eating of shell fish, and in 12 cases no cause was
discovered. One case was probably due to working at cleansing
ditches.