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11
Influenza.
During the last months the world-wide epidemic of Influenza
gave considerable anxiety. Owing to the severity of the disease and
complications, many deaths occurred in this Borough. During
the year the number of deaths due to this disease and complications
was 491.
Great difficulty was experienced, owing to the shortage of
labour, to obtain the necessary undertakers and grave diggers for
the disposal of the bodies, but this was eventually overcome by
the bodies being removed to the mortuaries to await interment.
The Medical Practitioners of the distriot were unable to cope
with the work in connection with the epidemic, and I applied to
the War Office for the release of several who were in the
R.A.M.C., but I was only able to obtain the assistance of Dr.
Brough, Deputy Medical Officer oif Health, for 14 days during the
height of the epidemic. Two empty wards at the Isolation Hospital
were opened for the admission of cases with complications,
but the results were not altogether satisfactory, owing to the
severe complications oif the cases admitted.
REPORT ON THE BOROUGH BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
During the year 1918 there were 310 specimens examined
for Medical Practitioners.

Results are communicated per telephone or sent by special
messenger.
DISINFECTION.
956 premises were disinfected. The steam disinfcctor at the
Isolation Hospital is used for bedding and other articles requiring
disinfection.