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It may be ascertained by looking over the table referring to epidemic diseases,
that during the last ten years Scarlatina has been more destructive to infantile life
than any other disease of its class; it is also very difficult to arrest the progress of this
and kindred diseases, even in the houses of those who can obtain the aid of every
known preventive measure, but when they assail the homes of the poor, the present
power we possess of checking the extension and diminishing the fatality of these
diseases is very limited; in these circumstances the want of space renders isolation
impracticable, usually the healthy children of the family and the infected patients live
in the same room, and the intercourse of the parents and children with other persons
living near them is so free as to quickly desseminate the poison, and in this manner the
particular epidemic disease is likely to spread rapidly, and for want of better accommodation
and more judicious management, the effects of the disease are more fatal.
It frequently happens that the Medical Officer of Health has no information of the
existence of epidemic disease until death reveals it, and this want of knowledge is considered
a great hinderance to him in the fulfilment of his duties. It seems desirable that
some power should be created to render isolation of the patients more effectual, and also to
require some person to give immediate information to the sanitorv authorities whenever
a case of epidemic disease occurs. This is rather a difficult subject to deal with, but it
is hoped that some arrangement may be made to accomplish the object without asking
for the assistance of the legislature to enforce it.
As epidemic diseases are always more or less prevalent, it is obvious that we
should be at all times well prepared to cope with them, and I would beg to remind you
that in some former severe and fatal visitations of this class of diseases, we had the help
of a disinfecting chamber, which was taken down when the Vestry was deprived of the
use of the Stone-yard contiguous to the Workhouse. I believe it was a useful instrument
and calculated to stem the progress of disease and assist in preserving human life,
and I would earnestly advise the Vestry to take into consideration the necessity of
having it at once reconstructed in a convenient place.
Zymotic Diseases.—I have enumerated below and made a few remarks on some of
the most important of this kind of disease. A table is also added which extends over
the last ten years, and explains the relative number of deaths that have annually taken
place during that period.
Fever.—Four cases were registered, three typhoid and one typhus. Annual
average during ten years, ten deaths.
Small Pox.—No death has been recorded, and it is worthy of attention, that only
one has occurred during the last three vears. Annual average for ten vears, nine
deaths.
Scarlatina.—The unusual prevalence of this disease has caused forty-eight deaths.
Annual average for ten years, 26 50 deaths. In the first quarter, seven cases were
registered ; in the second, eighteen ; in the third, twenty-nine, and in the fourth, four.
easles.—By this disease fourteen lives were destroyed. Annual average for ten
years, eleven deaths.