[Report 1896] / Sanitary Committee [- Medical Officer of Health], Cornwall County Council.

  • Cornwall (England). County Council.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1896] / Sanitary Committee [- Medical Officer of Health], Cornwall County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CORNWALL COUNTY COUNCIL. ^anilBFg (JommitfFP. Monthly Report for March, 1896^ Comparatively very little disease was prevalent in the county during March. The consensus of opinion of the various M.O.H.’s, set forth in the column under the head of “general remarks,” is that last month was a very healthy one. This is fully borne out by the returns sent in from the different sanitary districts. A most satisfactory reduction in the various death-rates has to be noted. The general death-rate has fallen to i5'5o per i,ooo of the population, being a decline of 3’64|onthe previous month j in other words, 90 less persons died in March than in February. As compared ^with the corresponding month of last year the improvement is still more marked, being ao le.ss than 9'43 per thousand in favour of the present month. There is an appreciable decline of 17 deaths in the Infantile mortality, and of 33 deaths of aged persons of 63 and over. Notwithstanding these reductions th^y bear a greater relative proportion to the deaths registered than was the case last month, viz.: 62 per c4nt. against 33, Deaths from old age and senile decay are in the natural order of things, but much of the Infantile mortality is clearly preventible. Seeing that in the present day a greater number of infants are fed solely on cow’s milk than formerly, the importance of enforcing by all Sanitary Authorities the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milk.shops’ Orders, 1885 and 1886 is of the highest consideration. While in many Urban districts a systematic inspection is carried out, it is to be feared that in the Rural districts the obligations of the Authorities are lightly considered, in consequence of which the sanitary conditions of many cowsheds and dairies are deplorably bad and disease is thereby conveyed, not only to infants but to the general public. This matter is receiving more attention by some Sanitary Authorities—notably that of the Truro Union, which has now ordered a more thorough investigation and inspection than formerly was the rule. There is a great improvement in the number of deaths from zymotic diseases. From 20 deaths registered in February it has fallen to 10 for March, giving a death-rate of o'4 against o’8 for last month. I'his is the lowest rate recorded for the last two years. For the corresponding month of last year the number was 21 and the rate o‘9. The improvement extends also to the disease-rate. T’he number of notified or ascertained cases for March was 97 against 123 for February, a decline of 26 cases, and of I'17 in the rate per thousand of the population. Small-pox. There were 3 additional cases reported last month—i in Truro City and 4 in Camborne. No extension of the disease occurred in Redruth Rural district. The case at Truro (wife of the case previously reported) was an abortive one after re-vaccination, and occurred in the Isolation Hospital. At Camborne there were 2 cases in one house and 2 in adjoining houses. It is satisfactory to learn that the District Council have at last woke up to their responsibility, and have purchased premises which they intend to adapt as a permanent l.sobtion Hospital. , Jn view of the serious outbreak of this loathsome disease in other parts of the country—notably at Gloucester—it behoves the responsible authorities throughout the county, not only to enforce the Vaccination Act, but also to remedy the insanitary defects which still exist in some districts to an alarming extent. Diphtheria has further declined 17 cases, but increased i death. The Rural districts still contribute by far the greater number of cases. The principal centres this month are Liskeard (Rural) 8 cases and 2 deaths, and Truro (Rural) 8 cases and i death. 'J he disease has increased 2 cases and 2 deaths in the Liskeard centre after having declined to 3 cases in January. The M.O.H. strongly emphasizes the difficulty of confining the disease within narrow limits through the want of isolation. In Truro (Rural) district the disease, in the opinion of the M.O.H., was due probably to unflushed drains at St. Agnes and Tresillian. In the latter place faulty traps also are being renewed by order of the Sanitary Inspector. Erysipelas marks the only increase of zymotic cases for the month. From 18 cases in February it has advanced to 22 cases and i death for March. The Rural districts again contributed the larger proportion—17 cases and i death out of the 22. Scarlet fever has further dropped 6 cases ; but a fatal termination in one instance has to be noted. Ihe disease has occurred in 7 Rural districts and 6 Urban, the latter supplying the greater per centage of cases and the only death. Typhoid fever has fallen to 7 cases, a decline of 6 cases on the February returns. But here also the disease was ptally attended, i death having been registered therefrom. Measles, for the second con.secutive month, return no death. But a)t Wadebridge, in the St. Columb Rural district, the epidemic reported last month still exists. The M O.H. writes that “the want of notification is having far-reaching results. In two instances lately, instead of notification to the M.O.H. resulting in the probable exclusion and isolation of infectious cases, the first step taken is to close the school, an extreme measure interfering seriously with the educational work of the district, and to some extent compromising the grant.” We commend these remarks to the serious consideration of the three Rural districts who out of regard for a false economy refuse to adopt the Act. Whooping Cough. Only i death has been registered for this disease last month against 12 for February. It is with much regret that we learn of the demise during last month of the M.O.H. for Lostwithiel (the late Dr. Sewart), at the comparatively early age of 38 years. This accounts for the returns for that district not being included in this month’s report. On a review of the whole it will be evident that the various opinions of the M.O.H.’s as to the healthiness of the past month is fully confirmed, a decline being marked (with one solitary exception) under every specific head, while the birth-rate has increased, and the natural increase in the county’s population is shown to have reached the high figure of 294. {Signed on behalf of the Committee'), SILVANUS TREVAIL, Chairman. Truro, 16th April, 1896.