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to the Council, that a notice or placard relative
to "spitting" should be adopted by the Council
and posted in suitable places. 1 think it must
have been observed how very materially a notice
of this kind deters persons from committing
this disgusting offence. Evidence of this is
afforded by one's experience when travelling in
such conveyances as railway carriages and tramcars
where the practice is prohibited. I would
add that disinfection of rooms, bedding, etc.,
after fatal cases of phthisis, is carried our whore
medically recommended.
Inquests.
Fifteen inquests were hell, the verdicts attributing
death as due to natural causes in seven
oases, to accident in six, and suicide in two.
Notifications.
In compliance with the Infectious Diseases
Notification Act, I have received intimation of
200 cases as against 232 in the previous year, and
324 in 1903. Of the total number of patients 152
received treatment in the Council's I olation
Hospital. The cases are classified as follows:—
Scarlatina 158
Erysipelas 29
Diphtheria 62
Enteric fever 10
Puerperal fever 1
Of this number, eleven cases proved fatal. It
is convenient here to make mention of the inereased
facilities for dealing with infectious
case, owing to the enlargement of the hospital.
This was successfully carried out, and the two
fine new blocks, each containing two wards,
with smaller rooms for separate treatment, were
opened for use in the course of the autumn by
the Mayor. It is arranged that these should
be utilised by scarlatina patients. In addition
to these, the existing old building was partially
reconstructed, and adapted for the treatment of
diphtheria and enteric fever, the alterations
providing for complete separation of the one
disease from the other, although under one roof.
In addition, increased and greatly improved accommodation
was provided for the staff of
nurses by moans of enlarging the administrative
block and the lodge buildings. It is proposed to
retain, for a, time at least, the temporary iron
building as an emergency ward. The hospital,
in its present enlarged state will enable between
sixty and seventy patients to the treated.