Annual Report of Medical Officer of Health for Calstock Rural District Council 1908.

  • Bowhay, Albert.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Annual Report of Medical Officer of Health for Calstock Rural District Council 1908. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CALSTOCK RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. ANNUAL REPORT OF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1908. Gentlemen,—-I beg to present my fourteenth annual report dealing with the vital statistics and sanitary condition of your district for the past year. The statistics, as in the previous seven years, are calculated on the last census population of 5,874. Vital Statistics.—The births registered were 139—72 male and 67 female—four of which were illegitimate. The birth-rate is 23 66 per 1,000, a decrease of 11 in number and 1'87 in rate from the previous year, when it was exceptionally high. Deaths numbered 92— 42 male and 50 female— the death-rate being 15 66 per 1,000, an increase of twelve in number and 2‘05 in rate on the previous year. The natural increase is 47, compared with 70 in 1907. Six deaths of residents of this district occurred in the Tavistock Union Workhouse, and one in the Tavistock Cottage Hospital ; of these, five were male and two female. The corrected death-rate is therefore 16 85 per 1,000, compared with 15 15 in the previous year. Twelve of the deaths were those of infants, 3 of persons from 1 to 5 years of age, 2 from 5 to 15, 5 from 15 to 25, 41 from 25 to 65, and 36 aged 65 and upwards. The infantile death-rate is 86'33 per 1,000 births, a decrease of 0'33 from the previous year. One death was that of an illegitimate infant. Three deaths have occurred from zymotic disease, viz., whooping cough, and the zymotic death-rate is 0*510 compared with 0'340 in the previous year. Twenty-six deaths were from diseases of the respiratory organs, giving a rate of 4 43 compared with 24, and a rate of 4-08 in the previous year. Twelve of these were from phthisis—four more than in 1907, 4 from bronchitis, 5 from pneumonia, 3 from whooping cough, and two from other respiratory diseases. Of the other classified causes of death 3 occurred from tuberculous diseases other than phthisis, 9 from cancer—5 more than in 1907, 1 alcoholism, 2 premature birth, 1 childbirth, 19 heart diseases, 3 accidents, and 1 suicide. A comparison of the vital statistics of this district with that of the county is as follows © ■P c3 PH A +3 U ft . . 0 C3 GQ 3 * § Calstock 23'66 8’00 Cornwall 22-28 7'72 0 0 43 43 O cj 0 o3 '■§« BS N © ft o <D H <K (T> CSJ m 0-510 2-72 0-616 4-09 0 43 —< Cf S3 £ 0 ft 15 66 per 1,000 14-55 „ „ +1-38+0-28 -0-<06 - 1-37+ 1 11 „ ,, Notification of Infectious Disease.—Sixteen cases of infectious disease have been notified. One of the cases was diphtheria, four were £ erysij^las, and eleven scarlet fever. The infectious disease rate was 2 72 compared with 7*83 in the previous year. Scarlet Fever.—The sixteen cases which occurred were sporadic. Four cases were notified in January, and the other cases were scattered over the remainder of the year. Influenza was prevalent in the district through¬ out January and February but was of a mild type, and no deaths occurred from this cause, nor was there any increased mortality from chest diseases during those months. Whooping Cough was epidemic in the district during March and April, and three deaths occurred from this disease. Measles.—A mild outbreak of this disease occurred in the Gunnislake portion of the district in the last three months of the year, but it never assumed an epidemic character and it was not necessary to close any of the schools. Water Supply.—The long delayed water supply for St. Ann’s Chapel has been completed during the year, with the result that St. Ann’s Chapel and Cross have now a good supply of pure water and the Gunnislake supply is increased. The ram which lifts the water to the service reservoir supplying St. Ann’s Chapel has, despite the dry summer, been working satisfactorily. The service is essentially a stand-pipe one, and is not sufficient for baths or flushing purposes. Housing of the Working Classes.—In consequence of the extensive building which has been carried on during the last three years, together with the scarcity of work, causing many families to leave the district, the cottage accommodation is more than sufficient. Four houses were measured for alleged overcrowding, and one case was discovered and abated. New Buildings.—Certificates of water supply have been granted for 19 new houses. Factory and Workshop Act.—Ten bake¬ houses, one of which is classed as a factory, have been inspected. In three cases lime washing was required, and this was done after inspection. No case of overcrowding was discovered, and the sanitary condition was satisfactory. Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops.—These are registered and regularly inspected, and were found to be in a satisfactory condition. The number of dairies on the register is now fourteen. Summary of Sanitary Work performed during the year by the Council, or by owners of property after notice from the Council :—New sewers constructed, 114 feet ; sewers repaired, 40 feet ; new drains constructed, 4 ; drains cleared and repaired, 16 ; new closets, 6 ; closets converted to W.C.’s 4 ; cesspits filled in, 2 ; nuisances abated, 64 ; notices issued 9, ; houses measured for overcrowding, 4 ; water mains repaired, 30 feet ; certificates of water supply, 19 ; bakehouses inspected, 10 ; slaughter houses inspected, 10 ; dairies, cowsheds, &c., inspected, 14. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, ALBERT BOWHAY, M.D., D.P.H. Gunnislake, Tavistock, February 2nd, 1909.