View report page

5
their patients by bringing them under Sanitary supervision—all this
tending to the spread of the disease. Nevertheless, 1477 cases were
brought under notice of the Sanitary staff during the year—all being duly
attended to ; and we are mainly indebted for information of cases to the
Sisters of Charity, Clergy, Medical Officers, District Visitors, and to house
to house visitation by the Sanitary Inspectors.
It is to be deplored that, notwithstanding all our efforts, this disease
still remains amongst us, though in much less degree. The Sanitary
Inspeetors continue to visit every known case, no matter what station of
life the patient holds, or by whom attended. "We supply disinfectants,
destroy bedding where necessary, serve notice on owners to have the
houses thoroughly cleansed and disinfected after each case, and, in default,
summon them before a magistrate, when fines are frequently inflicted.
When the District Medical Officers are called upon to attend a person
Buffering from the disease, the patient is removed without delay, if in a
fit state, to the Small Pox Hospital. Should there be any circumstances
to prevent such removal, the case is carefully watched by the Sanitary
staff, and all is done to impress upon the friends the necessity of strict
cleanliness and disinfection ; and should a death take place, speedy burial
is enforced.
Amongst diseases of the Zymotic class, Whooping Cough shewed the
greatest increase, the deaths rising from 66 in the preceding year to 118.
Measles from 38 to 82. The greatest decrease was in Scarlatina, the
deaths from which fell from 107 to 41. Fever fell from 77 to 63 ;
Diarrhoea from 164 to 159. There were 11 deaths registered as from
Cholera, against 9 in the preceding year. These cases would more properly
have been termed Diarrhoea, as they were the ordinary summer disease,
and not at all of the Asiatic type.
POPULATION.
The population of Bethnal Green, as shewn by the last census, was
120,200, and during the past year the total number of births registered
has been 4875, against 2958 deaths, giving a natural increase of 1917.
This number, added to the 120,200, amounts to 122,117; and there