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16
In New York it is stated that the Antitoxin treatment of
Diphtheria has been especially successful, and returns of deaths
giveu for the first three quarters of 1895, where this method
of treatment has been adopted, show a reduction in the
death-rate of 43'94, as compared with the average death-rate
for corresponding periods of the previous four years.
Fevers.—Five deaths were registered, compared with four last
year. Three of the deaths resulted from Enteric Fever and
two from Puerperal Fever. Twenty-eight cases of Enteric Fever
were notified, compared with 42 last year. Several patients
were admitted this year, suffering from Enteric Fever, into
Westminster Hospital, as I understand, at the request of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board Authorities. It appears that
notwithstanding the notification provisions of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, no notification of the introduction
of such cases into a district, under such circumstances, is
necessary to the medical officer of health into whose district the
cases are imported. The notification in these cases is sent to
the medical officer of health of the district from whence the
patient was brought to the hospital. (Section 55 b.)
The Metropolitan Asylums Board state that no such provision
is made in the Act, but, at the same time, wrote saying
that it was desirable that such cases should be notified to the
Sanitary Authority into whose district the cases' are imported,
but they have no power to enforce this very proper proceeding.
Measles —Twenty-three deaths were registered, compared
with 37 last year; of these, 18 occurred in St. John's Parish
and five in St. Margaret's.
Whooping Cough. — Thirteen deaths resulted from this
disease, compared with 19 last year; four deaths occurred in
St. Margaret's Parish and nine in St. John's.
Influenza.—Twenty-five deaths occurred from this disease,
as against 14 last year; 15 occurred in St. Margaret's Parish
and 10 in St. John's. Nearly all the cases occurred in the
months of January, February and March.
Diarrhœa.—Twenty-seven deaths were registered from this
cause during the year; last year 11 deaths only were registered.
Of the 27 deaths all were those of children under five
years of age, and mostly under one year of age, and it is
interesting to note that the majority of the cases, viz., 23 out
of 27, occurred during the months of July, August and September.
In England and Wales, during these months, no less
than 18,118 deaths were attributed to Diarrhoea, and in only
one September quarter, since that of the year 1884, has the
Diarrhoea mortality in England and Wales reached this figure.