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47
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 10 less; the deaths from
diarrhœa have been 6 less than last year; from influenza 160 less than last
year, when they numbered 212.
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.
Eleven deaths occurred from diarrhœa and epidemic enteritis, as compared
with 17, 22 and 34 for 1918-17-16. The death-rate from the disease is 0.15
per 1,000 of the population, as compared with 0.23 last year. Of these deaths,
6 occurred in children under one year of age, giving an infantile mortality
rate for the year from this cause of just under 5 per thousand nett births; the
numbers in 1918-17-16 were 12, 9 and 15. Six deaths were in children under
two years; these contribute to the zymotic death-rate.
The Local Weather.—Total rainfall was considerable. Temperature
was moderate. The total sunshine was good—better than in London. A heavy
snowfall on Sunday, April 27th, and cold nights in May, accounted for the
poor fruit season of 1919.
WHOOPING COUGH.
There were 4 deaths from this cause, as compared with 14, 13 and 9 in
1918-17-16. This is equal to a death-rate from the disease of 0.95 per 1,000
living, compared with 0.19 last year. All the deaths occurred amongst children
under five years of age—3 in the first age-period and 1 in the third. One in
May, June, July and August.
INFLUENZA.
Fifty-eight deaths amongst residents were due to this cause, compared
with 218, 6 and 7 in 1918-17-16. The 58 deaths were divided into the following
age-periods:—0 under one year, 1 between one and two, 4 between two and
five, 2 between five and fifteen, 7 between fifteen and twenty-five, 20 between
twenty-five and forty-five, 12 between forty-five and sixty-five, 12 sixty-five
and upwards. Total, 58.