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78
Without here further entering into details, it may be
remarked that the Medical Officer of Health reports that the
death rate of the parish was 10.51 per 1,000 for the year
1889, as compared with a rate of 17.4 for the whole
Metropolis. The cases of fever were again unusually
numerous during the year, but were chiefly infantile in
character and marked by a very low rate of mortality. Thus,
1 case of small-pox, 59 of scarlet fever, 13 of enteric or
typhoid fever, and 2 of diphtheria, came under the knowledge
of the sanitary officers, but only 9 deaths were attributable
to these diseases.
Two officers have been constantly engaged in the work of
inspection with a view to detecting and removing nuisances,
but the Vestry are still more anxious to prevent unsanitary
conditions which give rise to nuisances.
With this object they once more appeal to the parishioners
for intelligent co-operation, especially to such as by their
avocations are brought into contact with residents in the
poorer and more crowded districts. The Vestry will be glad
at all times to receive early information of any nuisance or
supposed nuisance. It is not absolutely necessary that the
name and address of the informant should be given in all
cases, although it is very desirable that this should be done
where possible, in order to save loss of time in fruitless
inquiry.
Another and most valuable mode of assisting in maintaining
a high degree of public health is for each householder to
insist upon scrupulous cleanliness being observed in the
premises under his control.
It cannot be too strongly urged that proper precautions
against infection will also do much to insure immunity from