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33
During the winter and spring months (December, January,
February and March) of the year ending 25th March, 1879, there
were 1168 deaths registered, whilst in the corresponding months of
the previous year, when the cold was less severe, there were 1083
deaths.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES caused 538 deaths,—170 due to whooping
cough; 129 to diarrhœa; 79 to scarlet fever, and 35 to
measles. 83 of the 170 deaths from whooping cough
occurred in infants under 1 year of age; 93 of the 129
deaths from diarrhoea occurred under 1 year. The
influence of age is much more manifest, for 151 of the
170 deaths from whooping cough were in infants under
2 years, and 105 of the 129 deaths from diarrhoea occurred
under 2 years of age. There were 10 deaths from smallpox,
and the reports made to the Sanitary Department
shew that the disease lingers in the parish, but the cases
are mostly of a very mild kind.
PROCEEDINGS TAKEN under the Nuisance Removal and
Diseases Prevention Act.
A great many sanitary improvements have been
effected in the year, and in all parts of the parish;
particulars of which are set forth in detail in Inspector
Alexander's report appended.
1015 premises were inspected, and sanitary notices
were served requiring the removal of dangerous conditions
from 813 of those dwellings, 5463 separate conditions
injurious to health were abolished. Their removal
necessitated a great amount of careful sanitary
supervision.
Referring to these conditions the report shows that in
281 dwellings, where the old brick drains were defective,
new pipe drains were laid; defectively constructed pipe