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10
In the appendix a Table will be found containing the deaths
from all diseases at different ages, by which we can see the
frightful prevalence and fatality of scarlet fever between the
ages of 1 and 15, as nearly 9 per cent. of the total mortality, or
nearly one-third of all the deaths at those ages were caused by
this disease. It is not likely that we shall have so large a
mortality of children for a considerable time, as we may expect
to be comparatively free from scarlet fever for at least three
years; and as measles and whooping cough have not so marked
a period for their prevalence as an epidemic, it may be many
years before all these become again epidemic in one year.
The sanitary works performed has been unusually large, as
you will see by the appendix. The increased number of small
houses in the district, to a great extent, accounts for this, as no
less than 5,903 houses, containing 22,460 rooms, 8,693 families,
and 34,793 inmates, were inspected during the year. Every
room in the houses, and every yard with its appurtenances were
examined. The particulars entered in the inspection books
respecting every house are as follows : the name of the owner
and occupier, the number of rooms, families, and inmates. The
state of the roof and of the house generally, the condition of the
yard as to paving, drainage, traps to the drains—of the dust
receptacle, of the water butt or cistern, of the water closet, of the
rain-water gutters and pipes, and the health of the inmates.
The result of the inspection as regards nuisances was, that no
less than 2,470 houses were found deficient in some of the
conditions which are necessary for the preservation of health.
On many of the premises the houses were dirty and dilapidated,
the drainage and paving bad, and the water closets in bad
order and condition.
In addition to the 5,903 houses inspected under the Sauitary