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34
SECTION II B.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES—NON-NOTIFIABLE.
We can partly judge from the prevalence of these diseases by the death
returns. The deaths from whooping cough have been one more; the deaths
from diarrhœa have been 5 less than last year; from influenza 212 more than
last year!
A prompter and better knowledge of the prevalence of these diseases is
gained from the notifications received from the head teachers, when they are
sent in fully and regularly to the Medical Officer of Health, as they should be,
in accordance with section 7 of "Instructions to Teachers," issued by the
Education Committee. Some head teachers rely too much on their attendance
officers and so delay arises in my becoming aware of the suspected cases.
DIARRHŒA.
Seventeen deaths occurred from diarrhœa and epidemic enteritis, as
compared with 22, 34 and 45 for 1917-16-15. The death-rate from the
disease is 0.23 per thousand of the population, as compared with 0.30 last
year. Of these deaths, 12 occurred in children under one year of age, giving
an infantile mortality rate for the year from this cause of just over ten per
thousand nett births: the figures in 1917-16-15 were 9, 15 and 22. Thirteen
deaths were in children under two years; these contribute to the zymotic deathrate.
The cool autumn did not favour this disease; however, a leaflet dated
11th July, from the Local Government Board, urged upon Councils and
voluntary agencies the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of
this disease, which is so fatal amongst children under two years of age. In
connection with an outbreak the Board was willing to give a grant towards
Health Visitors seeing bad cases at home, or hospital treatment. The Board
urged regular scavenging as one of the best preventive methods.
A letter was read from the Clerk of our Joint Hospital Board, dated 30th
July, intimating that the Board was prepared to receive into the hospital
serious cases of epidemic diarrhœa, when there was accommodation and staff
available.
The Local Weather. The year was fairly normal in most respects
The total sunshine was good, but the large allowance in March was followed
by a much reduced ration in April; this accounted for the poor fruit season
in 1918. During the year on less than four days there was over an inch of
rainfall.
WHOOPING COUGH.
There were 14 deaths from this cause, as compared with 13, 9 and 13 in
1917-16-15. This is equal to a death-rate from the disease of 0.19 per
thousand living, compared with 0.18 last year. All the deaths occurred
amongst children under five years of age—four in the first age period, four in
the second and six in the third. One in January, three in February, two in
April, one in May, one in June, three in July, one in August, one in September
and one in October.