View report page

( 35 )
Measles.—21 died from this disease, all children under 5 years
of age, being about the average number.
Scarlet Fever.—This District did not experience the severe
fatality from this disease, which prevailed over London during a
portion of the past year. Our recorded deaths were 10 (the lowest
number since 1873), including the deaths of parishioners in hospitals
out of the District.
Diphtheria.—6 deaths were registered, being about the average.
Whooping-Cough raged epidemically over the Metropolis, and
was more fatal in 1878 than in any previous year, with the exception
of 1866.
We lost 65 children, 26 of whom were infants under 1 year of age,
37 over 1 and under 5 years, and 2 above 5 years.
Fever (Enteric or Typhoid).—There were 19 deaths, including
those of parishioners who died in hospitals situated out of the District
; this number, though large, was 5 below the average.
The first cases reported occurred in the spring of the year in
Dudley Street; on visiting the houses with your surveyor, sanitary
defects, structural and otherwise, were discovered, and orders were
issued to remedy them, but these were unheeded, so that legal proceedings
were taken. The magistrate convicted with costs, and
ordered the works to be carried out within 14 days.
The disease, which had been gradually increasing all over London,
re-appeared in the autumn in several parts of this District, and
caused 11 deaths.
One of the places in which fever occurred was the cow-shed and
dairy, No. 1½, Little Wild Street, where a child was found lying ill
in a bedroom directly over the cow lair. I endeavoured, with the
concurrence of the medical attendant, to obtain the father's consent
to remove the child to hospital, but was unsuccessful, the patient
therefore remained under treatment at home.
Happily the milk was not infected, and the disease did not spread,
or serious consequences might have followed in this densely-populated
neighbourhood.
At the annual licensing day, your Board ordered the granting of
the licence to be opposed, on the ground of the insanitary condition
of the premises; and at the adjourned meeting of Middlesex Magistrates,
held at Freemasons' Tavern on the 3rd December last, the
justices, having heard the evidence of your officers, refused the
licence.
Recently, under powers conferred upon them by the Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Act, the Privy Council have framed bye-laws
for the regulation of cow-sheds, dairies and milk shops, one of the
principal objects of which is to prevent the spread of infectious
disease through the milk.
Erysipelas caused only 3 deaths.
Metria (Puerperal or Lying-in Fever).—3 females died
from it, against 13 for the previous year.
DIARRHŒA.—There were 50 deaths, and 42 were infants under
C 2