View report page

3
The cases were all of a very severe type and gave much
trouble. Serious overcrowding also existed on the premises which
it required decisive steps to overcome.
I should also like to express my appreciation of the constant
and devoted care and attention bestowed on these cases by Nurse
Bevis, the District Nurse, and the other Nurse from the Institution,
without which, I feel sure, the mortality would have been
increased.
The mortality from Measles (7) proves the truth of my
remarks re this disease in the Annual Report for 1896, viz:—that
the mortality in this disease is greater than that from Scarlet Fever
or Diphtheria.
The emergency caused by the Typhoid outbreak brought the
need of an Isolation Hospital very prominently forward.
This is indeed a most urgent matter, and in face of the steady
increase of population ought to be dealt with at once.
In my Annual Reports for 1895, 1896 and 1897, I referred to
this matter, and urged its importance. I am distinctly in favour
of the Council providing a Hospital for the district independently
of any other Authority.
A so-called temporary building, though this would probably
fulfil its purpose for 25 or 30 years to come, is all that is required,
and need not be a large one to start with, as it could always be
added to if occasion required.
An apparatus for disinfecting by steam, and a Mortuary should
also be provided at the same time.
The inconvenience of being without a Cemetery has been very
much felt during the year, especially amongst the poor. I know
of two cases in which the burial of even still-born children was
attended with great delay and expense; in one case I was obliged
to interfere on account of danger to health through the delay.
No doubt a considerable amount of overcrowding exists
which it is impossible to prevent at present without inflicting
great hardship on the working classes, on account of the high
rents charged for this class of house, though I feel sure we are
free from anything so bad as was brought to light recently in a
neighbouring district. If people would use windows for ventilation
much more than they do it would help to mitigate this evil. Fresh
air should be admitted by night as well as by day. In the event of
any gross cases of overcrowding occurring people having knowledge
of it should communicate the facts to the Sanitary Inspector
at once.
The condition of the sewers in Milton and the adjoining roads
is not what it should be, and ventilating shafts and more manholes
are required to make it satisfactory. The population of