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13
MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
In this, my Twenty-seventh Annual Report, I have to express
my thankfulness that we have not, as in the previous year, to
record a period of intense anxiety, when we had to contend with
an epidemic of a most formidable character, which at one time
threatened to baffle our utmost endeavours to suppress it.
The past year has been singularly uneventful in its character, and
has been remarkable for the diminution of deaths from Small-pox
and Scarlet Fever, diseases which we all believe to be more or
less rife as we observe or neglect sanitary laws. Eight cases of
Small-pox were removed by the Relieving Officers to the Small-pox
Hospital at Deptford, and two by your Inspector to the Hospital
at Highgate, and fourteen isolated and treated at their homes.
Nine cases of Scarlet Fever were removed by the Relieving
Officers to the Fever Hospital at Deptford, and one by your
Inspector to Liverpool Street, and 14 isolated and treated at their
homes. The cases removed by the Inspector were at the expense
of your Board. In every case the utmost care was taken to
disinfect with sulphur the rooms which had been inhabited by the
sick, as well as all bed-linen and clothing which could convey
infection. The owners were also required to lime-wash the
houses. The following is a summary of articles disinfected during
the year:—76 beds, 43 blankets, 150 pillows, 51 quilts, 34 mattresses,
47 rugs, 104 sheets, besides 415 sundry articles. Owing
to the energetic action of your Inspector a vast amount of sanitary
works have been carried out, among the most important of which
are as follows:—In St. Margaret's Court, the houses 9 to 25, the
water-closets were found in the basements, without water supply
and without ventilation, producing, without the least doubt,
serious injury to the health of persons living over them. The