HH62/2/LANARK/104

Transcription

[Page] 103

the part of the officers, it is hoped, and I think may
reasonably be expected, that epidemics will not assume
in the future the same dimensions that they have done
in the past.

Typhus Fever. - This disease, at one time so prevalent,
appears to have become almost extinct in many parts of
England and Scotland. In Glasgow, however, and other
localities of the West of Scotland, it reappears from time
to time, and in the Lower Ward, from our proximity to
Glasgow, we are not free from danger from this cause.
As it is a disease dependent upon filth and overcrowding,
our hope of escape depends upon the success of our efforts
to eradicate these evils from our midst. Happily, during
1891, we were exempt from any visitation of this plague.

Enteric or Typhoid Fever. - Such, however, was not
the case with the disease which at one time was confounded
with typhus, viz., typhoid, or, as it is better named, enteric
fever. Sixteen (16) deaths were ascribed to this cause,
10 of which took place in the Parish of Cadder, and the
other 6 in the Barony Parish. While, therefore, the enteric
death-rate is 0·414 per 1,000 in Barony Parish, Cadder
Parish has the bad pre-eminence of a rate of 1·214 per
1,000, that for the Lower Ward as a whole being 0·546.
The deaths in Cadder were the result of a special out-
break, which is treated under another heading.

From Measles there were 6 deaths, giving the same
rate as for scarlet fever, viz., 0·204 per 1,000.This is
often a fatal disease among children, and the low death-
rate is therefore exceedingly satisfactory.

Whooping-cough, on the other hand, has proved a fatal
disorder during the year, and shares equally with diphtheria
the highest death-rate among zymotic diseases. Twenty
(20) deaths were registered, of which 18 were in children
under 5 years of age.

[Page] 104

Parents, as a rule, are not sufficiently alive to the im-
portance of isolating children suffering either from measles
or whooping-cough - these diseases being foolishly enough
accepted as a matter of course.
The efforts of the sanitary staff will be directed towards
preventing children suffering from either of these disorders,
or who have been in immediate contact with those suffering
from them from attending school.

Diarrhœa is one of the most fatal of diseases among
children, especially during the months of August, September,
and October. It is therefore gratifying to find that the
death-rate from this cause, in the Lower Ward, is con-
siderably below the average. Twelve (12) deaths occurred,
all in children under 5 years of age, equal to a rate of
0·409 per 1,000. It is somewhat significant that one half
of these deaths were registered in Cadder Parish, where
enteric fever has been most prevalent, and where the water
supply has been most deficient.

Phthisis. - In all health reports this scourge of large
populations occupies a prominent place, but it is only of
late years that we are beginning to recognise that much
of it is preventable by drainage, ventilation, and other
sanitary measures. Forty-three (43) deaths, all in adults,
were registered as due to pulmonary consumption in 1891,
22 of which were in Barony, 12 in Cadder, 1 in Govan,
and 8 in Rutherglen. Given in rates per 1,000 we have
0·581 in Govan, 1·457 in Cadder, 1·518 in Barony, and
1·926 in Rutherglen, while for the Lower Ward as a
whole the rate is 1·467.

From other Tubercular Diseases 24 deaths were regis-
tered, the majority of which were in children under 10
years from tabes mesenterica. The rate per 1,000 was
0·819, making, with the death-rate from phthisis or con-
sumption, a total rate from tubercular diseases of 2·286.