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1907
144
Thus we see that in three years only 138 cases have been reported as
occurring in private practice, 75 cases in public practice, and 173 by the
relieving officers, or a total of 386 cases. Now in the same three years there
were 1,285 deaths, and if there were one death for every 10 cases then there
must have been 12,850 cases in the Borough in these years, which would point
to the fact that information was received in only 3 per cent. of them.
In all the cases of which the Public Health Department had cognizance,
instructions as to precautions to be taken were left with the people in charge
of the patient, or with the patient himself if an adnlt; and when he was
removed to an hospital an offer to disinfect the room or rooms lately occupied
by him was made to the head of the family or to the responsible person.
Where death had supervened on illness, which was learned from the
weekly death returns, a letter was addressed to the head of the household
offering to disinfect the clothing and the rooms lately occupied by the deceased.
This offer has been much appreciated, and has been accepted in many cases,
but not in all. Altogether 411 rooms in 296 houses have been disinfected.
Houses. Rooms.
1st quarter 94 - 131
2nd ,, 79 - 1 22
3rd „ ... 53 . 75
4th .... 70 - 83
Total 296 - 411
These figures contrast with those of the preceding two years as follows:—
Houses. Rooms.
I905 283 - 380
I906 258 - 369
I907 296 - 411
and show that there is an increasing desire on the part of the public to protect
themselves against the disease. Apart from any other reason these disinfections
do good by bringing home to people the fact that phthi is is a communicable
disease against which precautions can be taken to prevent its
spread.