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11
These doubtful certificates were considered by the Sanitary
Committee; I advised that the persons who had charge of the
children, stated to bo suffering from infectious disease, should be
prosecuted for unlawfully exposing them while so suffering
(Sanitary Act, 1866, 8ection 88); and that tho certifying doctors
should be called to give evidence in support of their certificates.
It was however not considered expedient to do this, but the medical
men who had signed the certificates wore written to and their
attention drawn to the facts; in a few instances the certificates
were withdrawn. Now I consider that it is no part of my duty to
examine sick persons with a view to verify tho medical attendant's
diagnosis, and I havo in every instanco refused to do so ; moreover
I oonsider that it is very mueh better that a few doubtful cases
should be notified, rather than that one true case should escape;
still it is a little hard upon the landlord that he should be put to
unnecessary expense, for I invariably order the usual cleansing
and disinfection of premises upon convalescence when I receive
notification of infectious disease.
All cases notified are. a- a rule, visited the day the certificate is
received, and a careful report of each is prepared; a book is kept
for each disease, and particulars of source of infection, place of
employment or school, milk supply, and sanitary condition of
premises, entered in their proper columns. A mass of information
is thus obtained, which, when tabulated at the end of the year
will be of the utmost value.
THE SEVEN PRINCIPAL ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
The deaths from the diseases grouped under the orders Miasmatic
and Diarrhœal, were 416 against 552 last year, a decrease of 36.
The decennial average of Zymotic deaths for the ten years 1879 to
1888, was 526.1 (see Table V).