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5
The population has been estimated at 36,604, but this is
little more than a mere guess, the correctness or otherwise of which
can only be ascertained after the Census. I have made a calculation
on the ;basis of the number of voters, which would raise the
population in the last ten years from 27,057 to 34,225, without
allowing for the increase of births over deaths, which in the ten
years is 4,372, making a total of 38,597 for the present population.
The number of voters removed from the list by death would not
be enough to greatly affect the result.
During the year 195 plans for new houses have been approved.
About 2,000 new houses have been built since the last Census.
SCARLET FEVER.
Fifty-eight cases of Scarlatina have been notified during the
year without a death.
In a table attached, the number of cases year by year is compared.
The secondary cases are shown under three headings.
Sometimes several cases are notified at once; these appear: one
as a primary case, and the others in column I. of the secondary
cases. Cases occurring in the house while the first case is being
nursed are given in column II.; and cases arising after the first
cases are declared to be well and free from infection are given in
column III.
It is found in practice that persons apparently completely recovered
are still infective, but in most of such cases careful examination
discloses some slight discharge from the nose, ear, etc.
Recovered patients should not therefore be allowed to sleep in
the same bed or be in close connection with healthy persons for
some little time after recovery.
Happily this disease is very mild at the present time, but this
is doubtless due to sanitary improvements and the care taken about
isolation.