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53
DIPHTHERIA.
The disease has very slightly increased both in the number of cases
notified and in the number of deaths. Since 1904, when the disease had
reached the lowest point on record, diphtheria has not shown anything
like its former disposition to regain its usual level of severity in the
borough. I hope some little portion of this is due to the lessened pollution
of the subsoil after storms, which in the year under consideration
has certainly been less than formerly. The large number of new
houses which have recently been built without an underground basement
must by reason of the dryness of the site assist in maintaining a better
state of health in our inhabitants. We 3till have in the older portion of
the borough a large number of houses standing on a damp and rotten site.
Owners complain very much at times on being required to cover the
surface with concrete, but such treatment is necessary to render the
the houses fairly habitable.
The deaths from the disease numbered 36 as against 31 for the year
1906.
The total number of cases notified, including Membranous Croup,
was 422, and 401 for the preceding year.
The percentage of deaths to the total number of cases notified
was 8 5.
The annual mortality per 1,000 living was 0-17.