[Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Wisbech U.D.C. / Borough.

  • Wisbech (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Wisbech U.D.C. / Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1/2
    £ O' SRUARY 19, 1896. loul'1 .nt a* ad a8 ;y by 3 had that chni- them clerk thoae rity. since when There r had m to srcise ill. uncil g the • the it tho osvver Jhair- went -bably much ferred btain- lieved Coun¬ write pplied Vhite) en. 3posed i what allot- to ask :il, for selves, '.icants ouncil ak the latter a and 1. snarka :ed at ■ation > why y one l that i the The •tised uncil land, could Iates with them they the Unt- Gir- link raw t it lan- lir- the md to md ing iey ter led ido vas i a 3m- to not ) a to ho he to , a he 's ll in lv ;h ■e- ;9, cfc. we ort md ,vra yht Le. to ght r it lia- o it uld bly iey nat uy ill la, th an th oil of ■us to, tier led To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Members of the Wisbech Corporation, acting as the Urban District Council. Gentlemen,—I again have the pleasure and honour to place before you my annual report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1895, and it is one which enabi.es me to again report to you that the sanitary requirements of this town must have taken a very prominont place in your minds, for, a3 a result, they are carried out in a very thorough and satisfactory manner. This town—with the excep¬ tion of the small epidemic of scarlet fever, which I shall again have to refer to—has been remarkably free from diseases of a so-called zymotic nature. Contrary to what one might expect, we have had practically no cases of an infectious or contagious character during the whole year, as only two cases of typhoid fever and one case of diphtheria have come to my knowledge. Influenza was again very prevalent during the first three months of the year a*id was widespread. We shared it in common with the whole surrounding district and neighbour¬ ing towus, but, taken as a whole, this disease was not nearly so severe in character as in the last epidemic. Whooping cough, which was so preva¬ lent last year, this year was eutirely absent. As you are aware, this year you adopted theNotifiea- Pel tion of Infectious Diseases Act, which enables me mii now to obtain a knowledge of every infectious illness which occurs in the borough, and I think it will prove of great value. Undoubtedly, it was through this that _we were able to keep so much in check the epidemic of scarlet fever which occurred during the last six months of the year. Although serious, it _ was not of a severe nature. This disease, as it remains catching for so long a period after convalescence, is perhaps the one we have most difficulty in dealing with, especially in crowded streets or yards. The first case of this epidemic, which came to my knowledge in June, occurred in Ryan-street, and soon three other members of the same family were attacked. In August, a case im¬ ported from Brighton occurred, and soon after, several other cases sprang up, and during the remaining months of the year it was a constant source of anxiety, but as the cases were very inild in type, _ only one death, fortunately, was caused through it. It seems difficult to trace the origin of the outbreak. Altogether 35 cases were reported, and of these a large number were at once removed, to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, and so the various districts were removed from danger as far as possible In each case disinfectants were very liberally used, and in many cases personally used by your inspector, who at all times exerted himself and took the most active and prompt pre¬ cautions to stay the spread of the disease. Not only was isolation as far as possible obtained, but also any insanitary condition was remedied that was found to exist. The climatic influence un¬ doubtedly had some effect on the spread of the disease. In the.early part the weather was very warm and damp, in October it became much colder, and the disease nearly died out, whilst again in December it became wet and foggy, and a few fresh cases appeared. With respect to the cases of typhoid fever, one occurred in the town, and was very severe, and_ was imported from Portsmouth. The other was in the country, and was caused through drinking stagnant water. In the case of diphtheria, which was very mild, it was obtained probably from polluted water in a neighbouring village. The great advantage obtained through so many of the inhabitants using so freely the lAwharo.. water was thus a.irain strikingly marked, and it isaT80Tn lie ui- to find thatnowthis is practically our water supply, as it continues to be more and more used each year. During the year I have frequently visited various parts of the town, which, taken as a whole, is well kept, the condition of the slaughter-houses, public buildings, Carpenters’ Arms-yard, &c., are much improved, the chief source of anxiety now being the continued bad state of the Russell-street sewer. This is the more to be regretted as now the sewers in general are acting in a very satisfactory manner, whilst the main, which was so ehoked, right through the Park to the pumping engine is now almost as dear as when first put down, the system of flushing being highly beneficial. Very few complaints of nuisances have been made, whilst each has received prompt attention and been remedied as soon as possible. I am glad to find that nearly all used closets are now connected with the town sewers. The number of births during the year were 218, or 6 more than last year, of these 106 were males, 112 females, giving a birth rate of 23 ;2 per 1000. The number of deaths during the year were 239, being a much larger number than last year, where the death rate was so exceptionally low, of these, how¬ ever, only 18© occurring in the town, 11 in the Hospital, 40 in the Workhouse, giving a death rate for the town of 19T per 1000. In connection with tho deaths, it is remarkahle to notice the various ages at which pei-sons have died. In the Work- house, out of 40 deaths, 10 were over the age of 60 years. 14 over 70 years, 15 over 80 years, and one over 90 years, when they died. The infantile death rate is large, when compared with last year, no less than 40 children having died under the age of one year, giving an infantile death rate of 4'2 per 1000. Deaths from pulmonary and heart affections were somewhat numerous, 50 of the deaths being attributable, to these causes, viz., phthisis 15, bronchitis, pneumonia and pleurisy 17, heart disease 18. In the Workhouse, phthisis caused 1, heart disease 1, and bronchitis 3 deaths. In the town, the deaths under one year were 40; over one year and under five years, 10; over five years and under 15 years, 8; over 15 years and under 25 years, 9; over 25 years and under 60 years, 34; over 60 years, 79. In the Workhouse, under 1 year, 2; over 15 years and under 25 .years, 1; over 25 years and under 60 years. 5; over 60 years, 40. In the Hospital, under 1 year, 1; over 15 years and under 25 years, 3; over 25 years and under 60 years, 5; over 60 years, 2. Herewith I beg to hand you the tabular statements of births, sickness and mortality for this period.— I am, Gentlemen, faithfully yours, Hap.rv Groom, B.A., M. D., &c., Jan. 18th, 1896. Medical Officer of Health. Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,—In drawing up my report for the year 1895, I find there is but little to mention. You have happily been put to no anxiety nor expense as regards any threatenings of cholera to your port during the year. The hospital suffered much during the severe gales that have passed over the district during the year, but it lias been thoroughly repaired, and is ever ready to receive any patients that may be justly brought to its doors. I must draw your attention—1st, to the fact that the laundry-house at the hospital is being largely used as a beacon-lantern room, which I think should not be allowed ; 2nd, the hospital is entirely without any form of bath for the patients; 3rd, two beds out of the four are without anv bedding ; 4th, one ward is without a table. I shall be grate¬ ful if these various necessaries be supplied. All I the and mei bus “tl pho The rern sine mai thii abs lefct wit l the pel are ala foi th' th' wc roi th. th' an sai a i he be do int coi ste it. inti dre woi tur but tow gar. I 81 two is t trui tha the mec and fam L nev, bed to i stat is ti Ulcil case I at On t son,; thin; prov shou nesd whic visit' of V) alter were form audi. abou I re. seein was l recei be pi like t hopei again have the ei and I allow, the pi is trn of his is res: cease1 are g [Ir “ No omit! th: Th clust the 1 bapt of Y the c Royi flora effec ador The to t been altai satii base the wati rite wiel She Rev Wii San ships, with one exception, coming to the port j Wo during the year have been inspected, either by myself or the Inspector of Nuisances, and found in a satisfactory condition. In conclusion, I can assure you of a continuance of a vigilant watch being kept over the sanitary condition of your port by your obedient servant, R. Hknslowe Wellington, M.O.H. THE RUSSELL-STREET SEWER. A letter was read from the Local Government Board as to the state of the Russell-street sewer and it was ordered that a reply should be sent to the effset that the nuisance had been obviated. This coucludod the business. ELM, Institute Cricket Club,—The annual meeting was held on Tuesday evening last Fob. 11th., Mr. J. J. Houghton presided, and there was a very good attendance. Tho accounts for tho past season wero prosentod and passed. Mr. A. Raeoy was re-elected captain ; Mr. F. Bowott was appointed vice-captain and Mr. W. Jewson (junr.) lion. sec. Mr. W. Greaves has kindly lont his field for the use of the club and with the small balance in hand (which it is hoped will bo increased by the proceeds of an enter¬ tainment to be given 'shortly), there is overy pros¬ pect of a successful season. OUTWELL. National Schools.—The followiug is a copy of H.M. Inspector’s Report on these schools:—“ Mixed Schools: The work appears to be good and thorough. In the reading of thelewer classes, a natural tone of voice should be cultivated. Mental arithmetic needs some attention. Tables too mechanical. Class subjects (grammar, rocitation and geography) intel¬ ligent and good. Muoh credit is due to Mr. Cooper and his staff. The improvements that have been made in tho premises are very satisfactory. Infants’ school: Discipline very good and teaching thorough. Mechanical methodsiu aritlimeticshouldbo avoided. Most of the work is, however, excellent.” Tho highest possible grants have boon oarned in both schools, namely, 20s. fid. per head on the average attendance in the mixed school.and 17s. per head on tho infant school. Miss Le Fla and Miss Louio Ely havo passed their examination very satisfac- factorily, having no subject marked against them. Miss Sophia Robb has passed the examination for a a candidate on probation. On the special reeom- | en mendatiou of Her Majesty’s inspector, the annual j a examination due in Jauuary,I897,will be omitted, j roll 31D{ of 8 Bis the bap all Wa Edv chai Wa j Porl ! arra I hor , of V) I pres ! Gra I ted I abse I Teel , (Dm , Stre I Cro1 Prit Prii Roy , the j (Me | Adi I Adi : Wb 1 hac i act' the I dov ; Wt nai j tho evi ■ tim his adr Aft I Far I Prii i Hoi ser