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18
believe that the water cistern used by both these houses
in common had become polluted, owing to a direct communication
with a closet beneath it.
There were 4 deaths from enteric fever, giving a casemortality
of 19 per cent., and a death rate per annum of
*29 per thousand living.
Relapsing Fever.—No case of this disease has been
reported.
Puerperal Fever.—No case of this disease has been
reported.
Cholera.—One case of cholera occurred in Mitcham
in September. I reported it fully to the Authority at the
time, and an account of the case was also published in the
“British Medical Journal.”* The case was fatal, and it
will be recollected that although the case could not be
connected with any previous case, in spite of careful
enquiry by Dr. Seaton and myself, yet Dr. Klein, of the
Local Government Board, found in the material that was
sent to him, the particular kind of “comma bacillus,”
which is, at any rate, the invariable accompaniment of
true Asiatic Cholera, and, so far as is known at present,
of no other disease. Apart from Dr. Klein's statement,
everything pointed to the case being one of ordinary
“English Cholera,” or “Cholera Nostras.” Very vigorous
measures were taken to prevent the spread of the disease,
and it is a matter for congratulation that there is only one
case to report.
Erysipelas.—Twenty cases of erysipelas have been
reported. Seven occurred in Mitcham, 5 in Wallington,
4 in Merton, 2 in Beddington, 1 in Coulsdon, and 1 in
Woodmansterne. There was no connection between any
* November 25th, 1893.