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9
you will agree with me that, in an important and
populous Borough such as this, we should not, with
regard to a subject of the highest importance, like
the prevention of infant mortality, be wholly dependent
upon voluntary agency, or merely follow in its wake.
The voluntary visitor should supplement but not replace
the official worker. It has been my endeavour to
keep in touch with the Society, and I see no difficulty
in this being continued in the event, as I trust, of the
duties being brought more under official control,
thereby providing a co-ordinated scheme with a larger
scope and extended benefits.
Old Age.
Eighty-three persons died over 60 years of age
and upwards, mJ over seventy years, 44 over eighty
years, and 8 over ninety years, the oldest of these
latter attaining ninety-nine years.
Inquests.
Twenty-three inquests were held, ten of the deaths
being due to natural causes, two to suicide, three to
accident, and one to murder.
Notifiable Infectious Diseases.
As might be expected, a considerable amount of
this class of disease prevailed more or less throughout
the year, making a total of 276 Notifications. The
principal causes accounting for this were cases of Scarlatina,
148; Diphtheria, 55 ; and Erysipelas, 47. In
addition, there were likewise two cases of modified
Small Pox, seven of Enteric Fever (four of these imported
patients), and seventeen of Pulmonary Tuberculosis,
these last being all Poor Law medical cases,
and principally notified from the Infirmary at Isleworth.
The Small Pox patients did well, and were
treated in our local Small Pox Hospital. The Scarlatina
cases were usually of a benign type, with only one
fatal result, and two children died from Diphtheria.