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In consequence of these changes some dislocation was inevitable,
but in spite of these, much useful work was carried out, three
hundred and fifty-three visits being paid to births notified.
Summer Diarrhœa.—The Medical Practitioners in the town
again kindly sent voluntary notifications of some of the cases of
Summer Diarrhœa coming under their notice during August and
September, in all twenty-seven notifications being received. Nine
of these were received during August and eighteen during
September. It was found possible to visit thirteen of these cases
and advice was given.
As only eight deaths occurred as the result of this disease
during August and September, including those transferred from
other districts, it may be assumed that the type, was on the whole
mild, and this was borne out by the observations and reports of the
Health Nurse.
It is intended that fuller reference to this very important
portion of the work of the department will be made in the next
year's report.
The question of storage and disposal of manure is closely
connected with this subject, as it is obviously useless to employ a
Health Nurse to give advice and to visit summer diarrhoea, if old
standing accumulations of manure are allowed to exist in immediate
proximity to the more crowded streets.
During the past two years considerable attention has been paid
to this subject, which is especially important now that the
possibility of flies as carriers of disease is recognised. Although
the Byelaws dealing with manure receptacles have been in force
since 1898, compliance has not apparently been very strictly
enforced in reference to existing receptacles, and in many cases no
receptacle at all has been provided.
Long continued immunity in this respect has produced a
feeling of security among the keepers of horses which is not
justified by the condition of their manure receptacles. It is fair,