HH62/1/BRWICK/3

Transcription

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In the way of precaution, and to prevent the spread of these
diseases, the public schools were closed as long as was thought
necessary. The cases as far as possible were isolated, and disinec-
tants were supplied by the Sanitary Inspector, who visited each case,
and in some instances not only gave instructions as to the use of
disinfectants, but also put out his hands and fumigated the apart-
ments. In the cases which came under my own personal care the
families kept cows and sold milk. On talking to the mothers of the
patients, and asking them to remove the cows, they willingly acceded
to my request, and at once sent the animals to a neighbouring farm,
where they remained for several weeks, till all chance of infection
was past. I find that in the country districts and landward parts
of parishes, the relatives of patients suffering from infectious diseases
are most willing to do all in their power to carry out instructions
given them with the object of preventing the spread of disease,
and that they appreciate the visits and services of the Sanitary
Inspector.
A few cases of mild Typhoid Fever and Diphtheria have occurred
in the county, but they call for no particular notice here. In two
cases which I visited, no explanation could be given as to the cause
or origin of the infection. Isolation of patient and strict attention
to disinfecting house, etc., prevented any spread of the disease. In
one case of Typhoid in the Middle District, as we had no hospital
for the reception of fever patients, all the inmates of the house
removed to a considerable distance, leaving the patient the sole
occupant of the house along with a nurse. He made a good recovery,
and after a few weeks in quarantine he left the neighbourhood, the
bedclothes and other articles being burned.
The Infectious Diseases Notification Act has now been adopted by
the whole county, and as I shall have an opportunity of seeing the
notifications at the Sanitary Inspector's office, I shall be in a position
to give a correct and reliable statement for the year we have now
commenced.
Influenza made its appearance in the end of October, and has
continued ever since. Many of the first cases were met with at farm
places and detached houses, both in the hills and lower parts of the

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county - towns and villages, however, by no means escaping. In
November it rapidly spread over the whole county, attacking the old
and young, strong and weak, rich and poor, male and female alike,
whole families being struck down within a few days. Town and
country, the hills and lower parts were equally liable to the disease.
The cases were numerous and severe, but not of a dangerous nature.
The usual symptoms, headache, burning hot skin, quick pulse and rise
of temperature, ranging from 100 to 103, more or less bronchial
irritation and cough, were generally present for the first few days
after seizure. After a little time these symptoms abated, the patient
was left weak and prostrate, with pains in back and limbs. Unfor-
tunately, some were induced to leave the house in a few days, the
general result being a relapse. In former epidemics, infants and
very young children were not affected, but the present form of the
disease is no respecter of persons, and in many instances young
children were laid low with all the symptoms typical of the disease.
It is worthy of remark that Coldingham Shore or St. Abbs, with a
population of 400, has escaped.
During the last quarter there has been a great amount of sickness,
but the greater part of this has been due to Influenza and its sequelae,
such as Bronchitis, Pneumonia, and other affections of the respira-
tory organs. The mortality, particularly amongst the old and infirm,
must have been high, but in some parishes the death rate was lower
than in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. In
Edinburgh and other towns the death rate reached an alarming
point, but in this county, although I am not in a position to give
the exact rate, I am safe in stating that it has not reached so high
a figure as one might have expected, considering the number of cases.
An hospital for the reception of infectious cases might be of use
for isolation and treatment, but in a county like this, where the
population is so widely scattered, I doubt whether one with a fully
equipped staff of nurses, etc., would be practicable without the
Burghs joining with the Districts.
The houses of the labouring classes are in most places good and
suitable. In some localities, however, these are very old, as at Little
Swinton in the Middle District; the accommodation is too limited,