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50
SCARLET FEVER
Of the 43 deaths resulting from scarlet fever, 20 occurred in
the sub-district of St. Paul's, and 23 in the parish of Fulham.
My remarks as to the necessary isolation for the prevention of
small.pox will equally apply to this disease. Very ineffectual
measures are, as a rule, adopted to prevent the spread of the
poison. It is quite an exception for us to obtain information
of a case except through the death returns.
FULHAM SMALL-POX HOSPITAL.
Several cases of small-pox have occurred in the immediate
neighbourhood of the Fulham small-pox Hospital. The question
that has arisen is whether the disease has been propagated from
that institution. From all the enquiries that I have made, I
have been unable to obtain the slightest evidence which would
lead me to suppose that such was the case. I am of opinion
that although a more isolated situation would have been desirable,
in the absence of any evidence that the disease has
spread, there is no need for the slightest anxiety.
PIGGERIES.
Many thousands of swine are kept in the District, and
numerous reports have been brought before your Board on the
subject. It is beyond question that the Fulham district is not
a fit or proper place for the keeping of swine. The population
has now become so large that the air is required in as pure a
state as possible to ventilate human dwellings. Most of the
piggeries are without doubt a nuisance and injurious to health.
Your Board have already commenced steps for the abolition
of this evil. I trust that the course adopted will be beneficial
to the District.
METEOROLOGY.
The low rate of mortality during the past year has been
mainly dependent upon the temperature of the first and last
three months, at which periods the greatest number of deaths
usually occur. The weather during the first quarter was remarkable
for an excessive rain fall, and comparative high
temperature, though there was very little sunshine throughout
that period. 4.35 inches of water fell in the month of