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6o
On September 2nd I was able to submit a circular letter dated July 10th
from the Local Government Board, in which the Board emphasized the importance
of visits to mothers during the hot weather ; the Board also asked the
Council to consider without delay the increase of the staff of women inspectors,
if insufficient for the work. Of course by this time the hottest weather was
over. No action was taken thereon.
Weather.—This is best referred to here, as our figures shows its effect
on infantile diarrhoea. The mean temperature for 1914 at Tottenham Observatory
was 52.0° Fah., and the rainfall 23.3 inches. The year 1914 was the
hottest for 75 years, but also the wettest for a century; as far as English recoi'ds
go. The rainfall for December was enormous.
MEHSLES.
There were 12 deaths noted, compared with 48, 15 and 31 in 1913-12-11.
This number of deaths is equal to a death-rate from measles of 0.18 per 1,000
living. One occurred in the first-age period (under one year), 6 in the secondage
(one and under two years), 2 in the third age (two and under five), and 3
over five years of age. All occurred in the last six months of the year.
Special leaflets re measles were distributed by the women inspectors, who
visited the families attacked.
The Urban District of Greenford, after 7 years experience, has discontinued
compulsory notification as the results were disappointing, and
notifications from school teachers resorted to instead. The population of this
village in 1913 was estimated at 1,245.
Patriotic children will not now admit that they are suffering from " German
measles," but they have christened the disease " Hun-pox."
WH00PING C0UGH.
There were seventeen deaths from this cause, as compared with 9, 23 and
15 in 1913-12-11. This is equal to a death-rate from the disease of 0.25 per
1,000 living. All the deaths occurred amongst children under 15 years of age—
6 in the first-age period, 5 in the second, 5 in the third, and 1 in the fourth.
Thirteen occurred in the first six months of the year.
INFLUENZA.
Four deaths were registered from this cause, compared with 7, 4 and 3 for
1913-12-11. Three persons were over 65 years of age, and the other was
between 25 and 45 years old. Three were females.