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10
ON THE SANITARY CONDITION OF
The deaths from respiratory diseases also assumed
large proportions, reaching in the week ending March
2nd, no less than 1,448, which was 945 above the
corrected average for the previous ten years
The effect produced by this epidemic is readily seen
on the chart opposite showing the general death-rate for
London and the Strand. It is to be noted that whenever
respiratory diseases are becoming prevalent, that
the death-rate of the Strand District, and especially of
the St. Clement's portion, rises before the London rate
does so.
For the remainder of the year the deaths from
respiratory diseases were below the average, but they
produced a slight rise in the death-rate in November.
In connection with the influenza epidemic in 1895,
it is to be noted that it began towards the end of the
long frost, and when the thaw came at the end of the
first week in March the death-rate had reached its
maximum.
It is most probable that the absence of water from
drains and sewers during several weeks, had a detrimental
influence upon the public health, by preventing
the proper removal, of sewage therefrom. The cold
weather lasted for three months, and during that period,
the longest continuous frost of this half of the century
occurred, viz.—from January 21st to February 20th,
31 days. There was also a deficiency of rain during
the first half of the year, the total amount which fell
being less than 50 per cent, of the average.
Notifiable Infectious Diseases
The number of cases notified in the Strand District
in 1895, was 198, the increase over last year being