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abundance of light and fresh air admitted to them. Spoons,
cups, and other articles of like kind after use should be washed
in hot water with soda before being used by other persons.
Overcrowding, defective sanitation, damp and generally
insanitary houses are predisposing causes to the development
and spread of the disease.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Fifty-three cases of Infectious Disease were notified
during the year as compared with 61,24, and 40 in the three
previous years. They are classed as follows:—
Scarlet Fever 30
Diptheria 12
Enteric 2
Erysipelas 9
Scarlet Fever was epidemic in January, February, March,
August and September. Only four cases of Infectious Disease
were removed to Hospital, the rest being treated at home
under the best possible conditions as regards isolation that the
circumstances of each case admitted of. In every case except
two these were successful in preventing spread of infection to
any other member of the household. Four of the Diphtheria
cases were fatal. All the cases of Scarlet Fever recovered.
INFLUENZA, Etc.
Influenza was prevalent as usual in January and February
and caused many severe attacks of Pneumonia amongst
children. In fact, the first three months of the year were
marked by a very large amount of sickness generally. In the
month of August there was quite an unusual amount of
sickness, especially of Acute Tonsillitis or Quinsy, probably due
to dust and germs disseminated through the atmosphere.
Whooping Cough commenced in November and has been
extensively epidemic ever since.
In my last annual report referring to three cases of Enteric
Fever, I stated that in my opinion the disease was probably
caused by the ingestion of unsound fish. The late unfortunate
epidemics of Enteric at Winchester and other places were
proved to have been caused by the eating of shell fish contaminated
by sewage This danger was referred to as far
back as 1894. It is to be hoped that means will be adopted
forthwith to place the beds in which these fish are cultivated
either under the control of the local Sanitary Authority, or of