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Infant Mortality.—The deaths of Infants under one year were 30 in number, and were at the rate
of 154 per thousand registered births, as against an average of 134 for the preceding ten years, and a
rate of 146 for England and Wales for the year. Three of the children, who died in Institutions, did
not belong to the District. Premature triplets and three other premature births accounted for six
deaths, two deaths were due to Whooping Cough, seven to Diarrhoea, one to Erysipelas, three to
Pneumonia, and one to Tubercular Meningitis.
The Zymotic Death-Rate was 1.24 per thousand of the population.
III.—Infectious Diseases.
Small Pox.—No case was reported.
Scarlet Fever.—Fourteen cases were notified in 11 houses. The was no special outbreak, and in
five cases the disease was known to have been contracted in other districts. Thirteen of the patients
were removed to the Isolation Hospital.
Diphtheria.—Two cases only were notified. One of the patients, living at the lodge of the
Croydon Rural Isolation Hospital, was removed into that Institution. No application was made during
the year for the examination of any specimen from patients suspected to be suffering from the disease.
Enteric Fever.—Two cases were notified.
Diarrhœa caused nine deaths, seven of which occurred among infants.
Measles caused no death.
Whooping Cough caused three deaths, in January, July, and August; two of the children were
eight months old, and one 15 months.
Of Erysipelas, one case was reported.
Of Puerperal Fever, two cases were reported, in January and March.
Tubercular Diseases.—The deaths from Pulmonary Consumption (Phthisis) were six in number,
and were at the rate of 0.83 per thousand of the population, which is about the average rate for the
preceding ten years. One death was caused by Tubercular Meningitis. No application was made during
the year for the examination of any specimen from patients suspected to be suffering from Phthisis.
Fumigation of rooms was done by the Inspector in five houses at which deaths from Phthisis had
occurred.
Other Preventive Measures.—After the removal or recovery of patients suffering from Diphtheria,
Scarlet Fever, Enteric Fever, and Puerperal Fever, the infected rooms were fumigated by the Sanitary
Inspector, the walls were stripped and limewashed, and all articles likely to retain infection were
removed and steamed in the Washington Lyons Disinfector at the Hospital; disinfectants were supplied
to the occupiers, who were instructed in their use; and a sanitary inspection of the premises was made.
Small Pox Hospital Accommodation.—Upon the expiration, in March, of the agreement between
the Surrey County Council and the Croydon and Wimbledon Joint Small Pox Hospital Board, under
which patients from this district suffering from Small Pox had been removed to the Board's Hospital at
Cheam, the County Council made an arrangement with the Metropolitan Asylums Board for the
accommodation of patients; and the County Council subsequenty issued an Order under the Isolation
Hospital Acts, after an enquiry had been held at Kingston, including this district in a Hospital District
consisting of all districts in the County which had not already provided for the isolation of this disease.
IV.—Summary of other Sanitary Proceedings, &c., which were taken
during the year.
1.—Inspections.—Systematic inspections were carried out by the Inspector and myself in various
parts of the district, including house-to-house inspections in three roads on the Wrythe, and a complete
reinspection of the houses in Harold Road ; notices were served on the discovery of nuisances, by the
Inspector, who continued to visit and to report until the nuisances had been abated. A large number of
houses were repaired, cleansed, and redrained, yards were paved, ashbins were provided, &c., as set out
in the Inspector's Report on page 7.
A house in The Square, upon which I had made a representation under the Housing of the
Working Classes Act, 1890, was closed by the owner.
By agreement with the Sutton Urban District Council, a new surface-water drain was provided at
the back of Harold Road, in order that the damp condition of the yards and the foundations of houses
might be remedied. A number of nuisances caused by insufficient cesspool accommodation for houses
in Avenue Road, upon which I reported to the Council, were abated by the connection of the drains with
the new sewer.