The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-03-14 00:00:00

THE HEALTH OF THE BOROUGH.

At the reoent Council meeting, Dlr. E. J. Day,
Medical Officer of Health, pre+. uteri a mcet satisfactory
statement relative to the health of the Borough, estate-
meet which places Dorchester amongst the healthiest
towns In the country. We have mad* the following
extract.:—

'' To His Wonhlptul_ths. *Vs, sod Corporstion

• ^ --• Dorchester. :-

" Deatlemen„—lt gives me pleasure to be in • position
to place before you • m ast satisfactory report of the health
of your borough during 1881. Noterithgatoding the severity
of the weather in the early part of the year there be.not
been a single case of smallpox, diphtheria, typhus, or
typhoid. One death is rlu to scarlet fever. which occurred
In All Stint. parish (Dec nub 'r); a mild case also of this
diseases appeared in • court on Fordington•hill, but fueniga•
tion, disinfection. tr.. prevented any further spreading.
Three children under tire years of see eu,-cembad ta croup
t so deaths were due sects to whooping cough and diarrhoea;
numelea proved fatal (being followed I.y congestion of the
lungs) ha on. child in December. time of the chief
sanitary improvements are :—Clneure of two wells (and
water laid on from reservoir). as I found the water in each
c we unfit for drinking purposes, one is in Mill-street, and
the other. are In L itaii-roed ; drainage of part of Great
Western-terrace made more efficient; drainage of •
alaughter-house improved, also the general state of it;
part of the main sewer—which hod become broken—put in
thorough repair; two house' diainfected and fumigated
five c wee of pigs kept so as to be injurious to health done
•nat` • ith. Five inquisitions were bold, two in Her
Majesty's prison. The births canceled the deaths by 112.
Cori maly, the number of births in each quarter wee 110,
with the exception of the fourth, when 51 were registered,
making • total of 261-114 males and 117 females : and •
birthlate of 34.8 per 1000 (against 314 is legn Fording
ten furnished 146. (1,1), Trinity 15, Si. Prier's 41, and All
Sehste 99. In the three parishes of Dorchester combined
were therefore registered the remaining 115. 01 the 119
deaths, 49 occurred in Fordinatin, V in Holy Trinity
parish, 21 in St Peter% 12 in All Saints'. end 10 in the
Dorset County 1104 pita' ; the death-rate is • trifle lees than
15.8 per 10151 (satinet 18.8 in 188)). 43 children died
before attaining five years of age (egainot 80 in 18460. The
rate of infant mortality has been very greatly reduced—
from 196 (in 1880) to 111 per 1000. only 29 haring died
before reachug on• year Of age, eltho igh in 2580 no leas
than 49 were registered under that tender age—this alto old
be looted with satiefafilon. In conesquenos of than roar
. deaths (at the barracks) from chest affection', the recruits
—who ear, to assemble in March and May next—yid be
provided with extra flannel &ogling. In Jena ay • death
was doe to also shone poisoning; • man and woman (the
latter in hospital) also were killed by the same agent—
Alcohol,' their fetal disease being 'egirit drinker"' liver.• "
—I am, gentlemen, your, obediently.
"E. J. DAY, 7.0.8."
February, 1812.