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In concluding this report, it is necessary briefly to refer to the account of
statistics given relating to sickness and mortality in the district. There has
been a small amount of illness and deaths caused through defective sanitation,
such as typhoid fever ; this illness is entirely preventable. Scarlet fever and
measles are chiefly spread by means of direct personal contact, and as the means
of communication with surrounding districts are so easy, it is not to be
surprised that these illnesses should rapidly spread when introduced into a
district. Insanitary condition of premises is also a potent cause for the
favourable extension of these diseases. Your Council, by adopting the necessary
measures of notification, providing means for isolation, and disinfection has
used your best endeavours to prevent infectious illness. The vital statistics of
your district show a satisfactory state of affairs. The birth-rate, 26.5, is somewhat
low. The mean annual birth-rate for the ten years 1883-1892 for England
and Wales was 31.9 ; the mean annual birth-rate for the ten years 1884-1893 in
your district was 33.0.
The death-rate for the year 1895 is 10.0 per 1,000 ; this is a very low rate.
The mean annual death-rate for England and Wales for the ten years 1883-1892
was 19.2 per 1,000. The mean annual rate in your district for the ten years
1884-1893 was 11.8 per 1,000.
The zymotic death-rate was low, namely, 0.9 per 1,000. In England and
Wales the zymotic death-rate was 3.1 per 1,000 in the year 1893.
It will be noticed in the pages of the report that for the first time it has
been possible to give a correct account of the population calculated on the census
returns of the years 1881 and 1891, and a correct rate of births and deaths, and
mean rate for ten years, 1884-1893.
The Infantile Mortality was 117 to a thousand births, considerably lower
than last year. Diarrhœa, a disease very fatal to young children, was markedly
absent from your district during the year.
Of diseases which caused deaths, it is to be noticed cancer and phthisis
maintain about the same average each year.
Cancer is supposed to be more prevalent on a clay subsoil than on other
kinds of subsoil. A belief is also gaming ground that cancer may be due to
a parasite; but in an exhaustive report by Dr. Klein, in the report of the
Medical Officer to the Local Government Board, 1894, it is stated that the
evidence at present it not sufficient to prove the assertion that cancer is due to
a parasite.
Convulsions caused eleven deaths in infants. These deaths illustrate how
easy it is to disturb the delicate nervous system of a young child.
Heart disease caused nine deaths, and probably points to the break-down
in the principal organ of life as the result of increased exertions in the struggle
for existence.
My report contains a record of your Council's action in approaching, during
the year, difficult questions relating to public health, namely. constant water
supply, ventilation of sewers, prevention of dampness in buildings, etc.
I would here gratefully acknowledge the invariable courtesy I have met at
your hands, and the just consideration my reports have received.
I have also to thank the officials of the Council for kind assistance I have
in the course of my duties received from them.
I have to subscribe myself,
Your Obedient Servant,
HUGH STOTT.