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4
the increase in the London rate for 1898; the mortality of
infants per thousand births has shown also a successive
reduction the past three years, and each of these years the
rate has been less than the London rate. The zymotic deathrate
has been diminished the past two years, and is this year
below the London rate; and the phthisis rate is also
diminished.
Overcrowding, although often recurring, has been much
reduced, and during the year only 25 instances were found,
which are much below the numbers of previous years.
Many rooms were again found to be in a filthy and
disgraceful state on account of the neglect of the occupiers.
In 106 such cases notices were served on the tenants, with
very beneficial results.
During the year the Metropolitan Asylums Board was
able to receive all the cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and
typhoid fever, that required to be removed to their hospitals.
The treatment of diphtheria by anti-toxic serum still
continues to give very satisfactory results, which have been
confirmed by an enquiry by a committee of the Clinical
Society.
On account of the Welsh coal strike there has been a
large increase of smoke nuisances which have required
attention. Many observations were made, and ten notices
were served, and one firm was fined £5 and costs. The
South Eastern, and London, Brighton and South Coast
Railway Companies were communicated with on account of
nuisances caused bv smoke from their locomotives.
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