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11
It will be remarked that one death only occurred in the
district from small-pox, it is, however, only fair to state, that a
very large number of cases of small-pox were promptly removed to
the Small-pox Hospital, and that some of them died. I wish the
Board to understand that a large proportion of these cases were of
the non-pauper class, which were as readily removed by the
relieving officers, as those that were, and these gentlemen deserve
the warmest thanks for their kind co-operation.
I believe we very narrowly escaped the introduction of typhus
fever into the district. The following are the facts :—
A family named Austin came to reside in Orange Court
sometime in November, on the 21st and 25th the parents and
two children were removed to the Stockwell Fever Hospital,
stricken with typhus; so virulent was the poison, that on the 4th
December the parents and elder daughter were dead. They had
previously resided in King Street, Mint Street, where an infant
named Bache had been ill with typhus, and whose bed-linen the
mother of the Austin family had washed, and thereby caught
the disease. I immediately directed every article of furniture to
be burnt, disinfected thoroughly the house, and happily, by
these means prevented the disease from spreading. No fresh
case has since occurred in any part of the district. The disinfectants
which were employed were, sulphur and bichromate
of potassium.
In Christ Church there were 11 deaths from violence, and 14
in St. Saviour's, 20 inquests were held in Christ Church, and 17
in St. Saviour's. I take this opportunity of stating that 24
bodies have been removed from the district to the Mortuary since
it was erected by the board, and that all opposition to its use has
stopped,—indeed, now that we have experienced the advantages
which it affords, it appears impossible to believe we could have
managed without it.
In the following tabulated statement I would direct your
attention to the ages of those who died during the year,