[Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Wigan R.D.C.

  • Wigan (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Wigan R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Vuerperd Fever,—There were no cases of this affection. i.—This Erysipeldk. —This gave rise to 13 notifications, 5 in Shevington, 6 in Wrightington, and 2 in Haigh. 1 case was fatjal in Wrightington. Measles—This infections disease is not scheduled under the notification act, nor has it been included by resolution bf my Council, so that we do not know if there have been any cases. Personally I do not know of any c^ses having occurred, and there are no deaths ascribed to this cause. SmallpoA.—This loathsome disease has happily not visited us. A pleasing feature to which I may draw your attention, is the smallness of the number of deaths from infectious disease, viz., 5, whilst in the previous year I had to record 15 deaths as due to these causes. Infantile Deaths.—These were 26 in number, and like the total deaths is the same as for 1902. Wrightington and Haigh gave the most, viz., 7 each. Parbold comes next with 5, Shevington and Dalton contributed 3 bach, and Worthington 1 only. A reference to table VI. will show that with the exception of Shevington, Wrightington and Dalton, these rates are excessive. As a guide in reading these rates, I may say that for the whole of the Rural District in the 'Administrative County of Lancashire, the rate for 1902 was 116’ per 1,000 births. Infantile Diarrhoea (Zymotic Enteritis).—Only 1 death was recorded and occurred in Wrightington. Phthisis.—The deaths from this affection again shows a decline, only 1 being recorded as against 2 in 1902 and 7 in 1901. fflie agitation started a few years ago in regard to this affection and the information circulated regard¬ ing it, by causing persons who may be affected to seek relief earlier, and the fact which most people now know that consumption is curable, has to my mind, together with improved sanitation, had great effect in bringing about this desirabe result. Respiratory Diseases.—The deaths from these numbered 19, a decrease of 2 on those recorded in the previous year. Premature Births.— These gave rise to 9 deaths which is certainly a large number. . 7 Accidental Deaths.—There were quite an unusual number of accidental deaths, viz., and were as follows: 1 drowned at Shevington; 3 drowned at Wrightington; 2 drowned at Parbold*-’ 1 killed at Worthington. The latter case was one of an elderly woman who fell and broke her thigh, the results of which brought about her death. Housing of Working Glasses Act.— No measures have been necessary under this Act. There are sufficient houses for the needs of the population, the houses are well-built, and there is practically no overcrowding. The open and uncovered privies and middens are the part which necessitate most attention, and many of the old ones have been attended to during the year and brought into line with the byelaws of the Council. Drains, Sewage and Seivage Disposal.—In the past this has mostly been by means of cess-pools, and draiuage into water courses. l In Shevington the work of draining Crooke and erecting the necessary filter beds, Ac., is on the point of being commenced. The scheme for the drainage of the Almond Prcok, Rroad’otli’ Lane, and Gathurst Lane portions of the township are somewhat in abeyance on account of the difficulty of obtaining suitable lands.