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important to merit official attention. The disease is not only very fatal,
but probably more than any other disease, it is liable, when the patient
survives, to leave behind its insiduous poisonous effects upon the
internal organs, mischief which is frequently fatally developed in after
lite, causing serious illness and often death, the real origin of which is
unsuspected.
The prevention of the spread of whooping-cough would doubtless
entail greater difficulties and more stringent sanitary discipline than
appears to be necessary with other infectious diseases, but this is only
apparent. The disease is more gradual in its development—its dangerous
symptoms and effects encroach slowly, and by insidious degrees
implicate various vital organs, resulting too frequently in either permanent
mischief, too lightly thought of, or fatal results. The disease is as
amenable to preventive control as any other of the same class, which
experience has proved we are capable of subjugating and suppressing.
Measles comes next in degree of fatality, and is also a disease
which frequently leaves lasting effects in those who survive, and which
parents and friends are too liable to treat with indifference.
Table IV shows the number of deaths at different ages, and is interesting.
As usual the number of deaths during the first year of age is the
highest, being more than one-fourth the total, and if we take the first
quinquennial period the number of deaths is close upon half the total,
so that half the children born, die during these earliest years; the
causes are many and very wide in their nature; it appears to be
evidence in favour of the doctrine of selection and survival of the
fittest, although this view does not apparently always obtain confirmation,
by a study of the qualities of the matured survivors.
Table V shows the number of births and deaths in the different
wards separately, and in Workhouses within the Hamlet during each of
the four quarters. It should be observed that our death rate is
materially increased by invalids being sent to the Infirmaries who do
not belong to the Hamlet.
Table VI shows the mortality in each of the five wards, exclusive
of Workhouses, by which it will be seen that the death rate of the
normal population was only 20.02, which would be still less were it
calculated upon my estimate of the population 110,000, instead of that
of the last census 105,573.
SUMMARY OF MY REPORTS TO THE SANITARY
COMMITTEE,
During the year ending March, 1882.
1881.
April 5—Ordinary Report and re Small Pox; alleged Nuisance at
Schofield's Manure Works, James Street.
May 2—Ordinary Report and re Infectious Ward, Workhouse Infirmary.
„ 16—Ordinary Report and re Small-pox; Weighbridge Place;
defective drainage at the Mission House, Settle Street.
June 20—Ordinary Report; re Small-pox; visit to Infant School re
unvaccinated children, and overcrowding at 69, Redman's
Road.