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a11 closely gathered together on the same table. It is true this is
often due to an absence of sufficient airy storage, but too frequently
the conveniences provided are not utilized. Another common failing
one finds is that diminished rainfall appears to produce diminished
house cleaning. People will scrub away muddy houses, but dust is
not so noticeable, and that water is not as copiously used for this
purpose during hot summers as it should be. A cold wet summer
does not produce excessive epidemic Diarrhoea, and common sense
should suggest, not only to the individual citizen, but also to the
municipality, that one of the chief methods of reducing this very fatal
disease is the unsparing use of water.
Much good, we do not doubt, is done by the visitation of houses,
more especially by the women Inspectors. Hitherto, it has been
difficult to obtain information as to the existence of newly-born
children, and the Council, together with other authorities, requested
that a return of Births should be supplied to the Medical Officer of
Health as well as of Deaths. In October, 1904, the RegistrarGeneral,
after consultation with the Local Government Board, informed
the Local Registrars by circular letter, that they were at
liberty to furnish the Sanitary Authorities with the particulars of
births on specified forms, and it is therefore now possible to reach the
mothers of infants, and by distributing literature and advice to warn
them against common domestic faults at a much earlier time than
heretofore.
In several instances, owing to the time which elapses between
birth and registration, the Medical Officer of Health receives notification
together both of the birth and of the death of a child. It is,
however, a great aid to the administrations of a Public Health
Department to obtain the knowledge of the houses where births
have occurred.
Truant School, Fyfield.—During the year arrangements
were made for the reception into Plaistow Hospital of cases of