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3°
It may not be out of place to state here what progress has been
made:—
1. By virtue of an arrangement entered into between your Vestry
and the sub-district registrars of deaths, seven years ago, I
duly receive notice of all deaths from the graver infectious
diseases (small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus, enteric
and simple continued fevers), within a few hours after they
have been registered. It may be observed that when a death
has occurred from an infectious disease there is always a
probability of finding other cases of illness in the same house or
in the locality, and such discovery not unfrequently results from
the Sanitary Inspector's visit. Now and then the registration
of a death has been unduly delayed—sometimes probably with
the object of temporary concealment of the cause of death.
It would be well if registration within a limited period, say
twenty-four hours, were made compulsory.
2. The Relieving Officers, by direction of the Board of Guardians,
report all cases of infectious diseases that come under their cognizance,
and generally these are cases that have been, or are
about to be, removed to the hospitals of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, admission to which (practically denied to no
person) can only be obtained on the order of a relieving officer,
or the master of a workhouse.
3. Similar information is given by the Resident Medical Officer of
the Kensington Dispensary, by direction of the Committee of
Management; but we seldom hear of sickness through any
similar institution; and it is a matter of regret that many cases
that ought to be removed to the hospitals are kept at home,
and treated by medical men attached to so-called " provident
dispensaries."
4. Medical men favour me occasionally with information of cases,
and more especially when they desire assistance in order to get
the sufferers (e.g., domestic servants) removed to hospitals.
5. In my last annual report I referred to what I thought to be a
somewhat important step in advance that had then lately been
effected by the action of the London School Board, which at my
request, had instructed the Superintendents of Divisions through-