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10
Measles were responsible for 24 deaths, as against 52 last
year; and Scarlet Fever removed 9 more persons last year than
this. Seven more deaths occurred from Whooping Cough this
year, but this Autumn, only about half the usual number of infants
were sacrificed to Diarrhoea. On the other hand both Diphtheria
and Enteric Fever proved more fatal this year, 28 more deaths
being registered from these diseases.
Whilst engaged in discussing the causes of death, one naturally
turns aside to investigate particulars concerning diseases which
may not have terminated fatally in all cases, and thus we are brought
face to face with other most important sets of statistics. The
ultimate benefit hoped for from such investigation is clearly to
lessen the frequency and scope of certain diseases, even though they
cannot be entirely stamped out. It becomes, therefore, my duty as
well as pleasure, to again refer to the work performed by your old
Inspectors, Messrs. Battram and Wrack. Such work as can be
classified and arranged, has been set out in tabular form, and bears
witness to the excellent character of the work. Your Board, however,
is aware that very much of their labour though essential to
the well-being of the District, cannot be registered. And here
permit me, Gentlemen, to thank you most heartily for the recent
addition to the Sanitary Staff, by the appointment as Inspector, of
Mr. Thomas P. Wrack. I am grateful, as well for the help he
affords, as for the unreserved manner in which you placed his services
at my disposal. I hope to satisfy you at a future time that
a great sanitary advance has been the outcome of this aCtion upon
your part.
In the Table O* which contains a Street List of the principal
zymotic diseases dealt with by your Inspectors during the year, it
will be noticed that the numbers are fewer than usual. This return
is a most valuable one, because it enables your staff to at once
attack any centre of disease, and thus obviate the tendency to an
enlargement of area As an illustration I may mention a case
which recently occurred. At 12 o'clock on Thursday the 28th of
March, 1889, it was reported at the office that a case of small-pox
was at a cottage in Dock Street. The Metropolitan Asylums'
Board was informed by telephone of the fact. I attended, and
learned that the patient, who was a seaman, had arrived the
previous day fr6m Lisbon. The Port Sanitary Medical Officer
* Page 25.