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10
Enteric Fever.
There have been four deaths from this disease
and sixteen notifications.
In one fatal case death was due to oldstanding
complications more than to the disease itself.
In the non-fatal cases there were in nearly every
instance insanitary conditions, though only in a
certain number was there any obvious defect. This
insanitary condition is sometimes difficult to define.
The house may be badly built or designed, the
fittings may be second rate and liable to get out of
order, there may be possibilities of leakages of
sewer gas from adjoining properties. These
conditions are only found in old property that was
built before the institution of Bye-laws. Gradually
such property as belongs to well-to-do owners is
being brought up to date, but many owners have not
the means to put their houses into proper condition.
In one of the fatal cases the drainage had been
completely relaid in 1893, but the work was carried
out un-approved and un-supervised by any official of
the Corporation. This drain was laid upon made
ground, it was not in a straight line, one of the joints
had a large hole in it and another was leaking
considerably. The tenant had only been a few
months in the house, but the previous tenant had
suffered from impaired health which he attributed to
the climate of the Thames valley. The climate of
the Thames valley has often been made to bear the
blame due to insanitary houses.
On application at the Health Department,
Clattern House, persons intending to re-drain or
improve the sanitation of their houses in the Borough
can obtain the assistance and advice of the Medical
Officer of Health free of charge, and intending