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53
SECTION II B.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES—NON-NOTIFIABLE.
We can partly judge of the prevalence of these diseases by the death
returns. The deaths from measles have been 33 more than last year, and the
deaths from whooping cough have been 14 less. The deaths from diarrhoea
have been 35 more than last year; from influenza, 7, three more than last year.
A 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. (See Annual Report on Education.)
DIARRHŒA.
Fifty-four deaths occurred from diarrhoea and epidemic enteritis, as compared
with 19, 145 and 22, for 1912-11-10. The death-rate from the disease is
0.81 per thousand of the population, as compared with 0.29 last year. Of these
deaths, 41 occurred in children under one year of age, giving an infantile
mortality rate for the year from this cause of over 22 per thousand nett births; the
figures in 1912-11-10 were 8, 61 and 9 per thousand nett births.
Deaths from diarrhceal diseases occur mainly between one month and
nine months of age—a period when the infant, who could be breast-fed with
entire safety, is tested with unclean cows' milk, and samples of grown-up
persons' diet. The advice on diet personally given by the Woman Inspector is
very useful.
In June 100 posters were published all over the district, and general
instructions given to the Engineer and myself tc take such steps as may be
necessary to check the spread of infantile diarrhoea. I requested the Engineer
to have certain roads specially watered and gave him a list of the streets
which were mostly affected in 1911.
A circular was received from the Local Government Board on this subject
on the 28th July, 1913. This arrived in time to be submitted to the Sanitary
Committee on the 3rd September! We have for some years past carried out
the measures indicated in this circular.
Weather. This is best referred to here, as our figures shows its effect
on infantile diarrhœa. The heat was more pronounced than last year, and
prolonged into the autumn, so that only 31 out of the 54 deaths occurred in the
third quarter and nine more in October.