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21
No doubt overcrowding is the great cause of phthisis, and
statistics show that heredity plays a comparatively small part
in this disease—probably only in one tenth of the cases
occurring—phthisis being a decidedly contagious disease.
Measles.
Twenty-three deaths occurred from this disease during 1897,
compared with 17 last year. The most serious outbreak of
measles occurred at St. Mary's schools, Hide-place. On Sept.
26th the epidemic began to show itself in the above schools,
mainly in the infants' department.
Eighty - nine children were attacked and ten died, either
from the measles or from pneumonia following the disease.
On October 22nd the sickness began to abate and then
gradually declined.
The ages of the children attacked ranged from three to seven
years.
At one time it was thought advisable to close the schools,
but after due reflection and knowing the amount of intercourse
which went on between the families of those attacked, and
that measles is infectious before the rash appears, I deemed
it inadvisable to do so. All due precautions were taken as
to disinfecting and the daily examination of the children
attending the schools.
Influenza.
Eight deaths occurred from this disease during 1897, viz.,
five in St. Margaret's parish and three in St. John's.
During the last week in December this disease began to be
very prevalent again.
Public Health Act and Government Property.
The following is a copy of a communication addressed by
the Vestry to the Government and other Local Authorities in
London:—
The Vestry have recently had their attention called to cases
in which property, in the occupation of certain of the Government
Departments, has been found defective in its sanitary condition,
or cases in which public inconvenience and danger have
arisen through such property, and the occupants thereof, not
being subject to the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1891.