Datasets:

davanstrien

/

moh-demo

like 0

1062c307-9101-4e8a-8f20-bb10a61066de

Act 2 THE Urban District Council of Action ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 1894. ACTON: Printed by J. Knowles, Market Place & Hooper's Mews. Act 2 THE Urban District Council of Acton. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER, FOR THE YEAR 1894.

b5f24b2c-285f-4303-8e4a-2d5cd7bf0d83

ACTON: Printed by J. Knowles, Market Place & Hooper's Mews. The Urban District Council of Acton. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 1894. To the Chairman & Members of the Acton District Council.

ba3f3cb4-554f-428b-9279-561a379dfd04

Gentlemen, I beg to submit to you the required Annual Report of the Health and Sanitary progress of Acton for the year 1894, but as I have only held office since Oct. 23rd, I have had to rely on my predecessor for much valuable information in its compilation.

a6753f7b-8466-4d16-b063-dc8a2f748fac

With regard to Meteorological Observations, the Autumn of the year was remarkable for an excessive rainfall, the result was a disasterous flood in the Thames Valley, which rendered the water turbid and overcharged with organic matter, this placed a great strain on the filtering beds of the various Water Companies, but on the subsidence of the flood the water soon regained its normal condition.

05950582-9678-4d99-b317-72a03eca3536

4 Among the chief works of Sanitary importance is the erection in the grounds of the Sewage Works of a Lyons' Patent Steam Disinfector by which all infected beds, bedding and clothing are subjected to super-heated steam, experiments have conclusively proved that steam at 2120 destroys all contagia. The new Burial Ground has been opened in the Northern district of the Parish.

de814609-c93d-4ed2-a9e7-ee4c269a6c17

It is situated on the East side of Horn Lane. The widening of the High Street has been completed, and the benefit to the Town is apparent, a large fresh air inlet being thus provided. The question of providing a Hospital for Infectious Diseases still remains in abeyance, and I would suggest this matter should engage your early attention.

a71b1209-bf9d-49b7-b565-ea72e0b33954

I take this opportunity of suggesting the erection of a Destructor Furnace, fitted with a fume Cremator, by which the dust bin refuse, including vegetable organic matter, can be completely destroyed, without the production of any nuisance ia the neighbourhood of the Destructor. Under the present system the difficulty of dealing with this rubbish is becoming daily more apparent.

9ca9b93f-f05f-4caf-ae4e-ac4264344821

There was an epidemic of Measles during the Spring, necessitating closing of the Schools, and causing thirteen deaths of children under five years from Bronchitis and Pneumonia. Many of the poorer class look upon Measles as a trivial disease, and ia many cases never seek Medical advice, whereas the patients 5 require the greatest care to prevent the serious lung complications that may supervene.

2c96ba65-09ee-4354-be6e-a7cc38a2a858

I am pleased to state that the death rate is the lowest since 1890, and the zymotic lower than the two preceeding years. You will notice that as usual the infant mortality is very high, no less than 133 deaths under one year, a death rate of 159.4 per thousand births.

6867df9a-2067-473e-9199-10efcdef3667

From the certificates sent in the majority of deaths under one year are from improper feeding, and 1 have made some further remarks in this report to show how this evil may to a certain extent be mitigated. POPULATION. In the middle of 1894, the population was estimated to be 27,600, an increase of 1,600 since the middle of 1893.

4d82ccba-a9a5-42a5-ba77-414be2bdb0ff

The following table shows the number of the population and the inhabited houses at the four preceeding censuses. Year. Inhabited Houses. Population. 1861. 610 3,151 1871. 1,568 8,306 1881. 2,844 17,110 1891. 4,084 24,207 BIRTHS.

e27f3b45-3521-449c-b032-7152d7601a6e

Total number of births registered was 834, as against 831 in 1893, an increase of 3, Birth Rate 30.2 per thousand persons living, as against 31.9 in 1893. 6 DEATHS. The number registered throughout the year was 393; this includes 25 residents of Acton who died in Public Institutions outside the Parish.

93a6f47f-676a-485b-b415-d8f43e5d3727

They comprised 187 Males and 206 Females. The annual death rate calculated upon a population of 27,600 was 14 2 per thousand, as against 18.6 in 1893, the lowest since 1890. There were 19 inquests held.

4d27072f-2001-4b09-b0fa-697be2d20289

The average death rate for London was 17.4 per thousand, against 21.1, 20-3 and 20.9 in the three preceding years. The following table shows the various ages at which death occurred in the District. Under 1 year 134 . Under 5 191 1 year and under 5 57 5 , , 15 13 .

514e4100-6e53-4db2-8ea8-18026f298ebe

Over 5 202 15 , , 25 18 25 , , 65 107 65 and upwards 64 393 393 The following table compares the death rate of children under one year per thousand registered births, and the birth rate for the last eight years. 7 Birth Rate Per Thousand. Deaths of Children under 1 year Per Thousand Registered Births. 1887 28.

d7f9e696-5c64-4f39-a7cd-a97aad65020f

7 147 1888 31.1 182 1889 34.1 175 1890 28.3 151 1891 30.8 146 1892 30.5 185 1893 31.9 192.5 1894 30.2 159.

63b9c9be-4bf7-48c1-9b89-ab72d6dbd455

4 This high infant mortality is due to a great extent to the deplorable ignorance that exists both amongst the poorer and in some cases the more educated classes, as to the suitable food to give a child brought up by hand. It is especially a difficult subject to approach with regard to the poor women, who are at work all day and leave the infant to the care of children, or possibly some equally ignorant person.

483598db-d5c8-4535-89e9-cb551381c97d

The plan that I have adopted is to give printed cards to the mothers and nurses as to the character and amount of food to be given at each meal, also minute directions how to prepare the food, and the suitable feeding bottle to be used. In some cases I find it necessary to instruct them personally in their homes, and not to lose sight of the infant until it begins to thrive.

f3a0cfee-b1ff-4745-9f2e-49a2611f5495

8 It is calculated that 26,000 children die in London alone from improper feeding, and the mortality of children under 10 years is only 2 per cent. less than it was 50 years ago. Of 50,000 persons dying annually in London, 21,000 are children under that age. ZYMOTIC DEATH RATE.

128970cb-f71c-4d1a-8593-7ea46cfe6066

The District is conveniently divided into six divisions with a view of grouping the deaths from the principle Zymotic diseases. Acton. South Acton. Acton Green. East Acton. Willesden. Bedford Park.

2fc34d81-65b0-463c-a294-2785535375da

Total Deaths 189 97 67 7 1 7 Deaths from Zymotic diseases 33 16 13 — 1 — The total number of deaths registered for the principle zymotic diseases was 63, as compared with 89 in 1893, this gives a zymotic death rate of 2.2 per thousand, as compared with 3.4 in 1893.

e18a89d4-f3df-44cb-ae99-18d8e1844b3f

In the following table the death rate and zymotic death rate are so arranged that comparison can be made for the last seven years. It will be noticed that the death rate is the lowest since 1890, and the zymotic lower than the two preceeding years. 9 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893.

63c611be-b804-4dbf-8457-3e14b401f827

1894. Small Pox - - - - - - - Measles 1 25 11 9 24 2 15 Scarlet Fever 2 1 3 4 — 10 3 Diphtheria 2 8 7 2 4 2 5 Whooping Cough 9 13 3 6 25 5 17 Typhoid Fever

75669331-3a5d-4609-8f84-7d19641b5408

— 1 1 — 3 4 2 Diarrhoea & Dysentery 10 12 18 24 34 60 17 Puerperal Fever — — — — 1 6 4 Total number of Deaths from 7 Zymotic Diseases 24 60 43 45 91 89 63 Deaths from other causes 282 377 298 368

00c9512c-bef8-4bad-ad5f-ca68adbd255f

334 396 330 Total Deaths 306 437 341 413 425 486 393 Death rate from seven' Zymotic diseases per thousand 1.09 2.8 1.9 1.8 3.6 3.4 2.2 Death rate from other 1 causes per thousand.)

c69c93ac-2428-4f7b-b8f1-ada353f0f2f9

12.9 16.1 12.0 15.3 13.4 15.2 12 General Death rate per thousand 13.99 18.9 13.9 17.1 17 18.6 14.2 REMARKS.

6eb98f21-79d8-45e6-97dd-c011d1e59148

There have been no deaths from Small Pox, fifteen deaths from Measles, 13 of which were children under 5 years of age who succumbed to lung complications. Three deaths from Scarlet Fever, and 5 from Diphtheria were registered, one of these occurred at the West London Hospital, the others as isolated cases in different parts of the Parish.

e95c268f-fbee-41bb-aa20-7b46bcc6fe0b

10 Whooping Cough was, next to Diarrhoea, the most fatal cause of death, 17 dying therefrom. It is believed to be a Micro-Paristic disease, the poison of which more especially affects the nervous system, with few exceptions the sufferers are solely children and persons of tender years.

ef1e419f-7f9c-4ddf-9a29-d992a9929afc

I think it is the duty of the Medical Officer to see that on recovery or death the clothing, and the room with its contents are properly disinfected. It is very satisfactory to note only 2 deaths from Typhoid Fever, one at Willesden and the other a child under 5 in Acton Parish.

77a694c8-c21a-41f4-aa80-ef50f6415d1e

Diarrhoea carried off 17 persons, 13 being children under 5 years of age, and improper feeding was the primary cause in many cases. Puerperal Fever caused 4 deaths, but only one case was notified to the Medical Officer. NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

60b71133-8cfc-42be-90be-e11d77cf186d

There was 167 cases notified as against 340 in 1893, the following table gives the number reported each year since the act came into force. 11 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. Small Pox — — 13 7 2 Scarlet Fever 108 63 74 192 86 Diphtheria 14 8

69d5fc85-de86-4f27-aff0-c6d7885c441c

27 41 22 Membranous Croup 4 — 13 1 — Typhoid Fever 13 13 15 19 15 Continued Fever — — — 1 — Puerperal Fever 1 — 1 2 1 Erysipilas 22 18 37 77 41 162 102 180 340 167 REMARKS.

5a782304-3db8-43f9-8060-3b354147104d

Both cases of Small Pox notified were sent to Hospital, they were imported into the District. SCARLET FEVER. This disease has not been nearly so prevalent this year as in 1893. DIPHTHERIA. Twenty-two cases were notified. In a. considerable number of cases the Diagnosis between Diphtheria, Follicular Tonsillitis,

ed03e6ee-1f31-4edd-b811-c0a6088fd853

and the severest forms of Scarlet Fever without rash is exceedingly difficult, and it is now generally admitted that the Diagonosis in some cases can only be definitely settled by 12 bacteriological examination, hence, many cases that are notified as Diphtheria turn out to be Follicular Tonsillitis, and vice versa.

347c8c58-41bf-43a9-b9ec-153bd7186fc3

I think that when there is any suspicion, the fact should be notified to the Medical Officer, the case can then be isolated until the diagnosis is clear. TYPHOID FEVER. Fifteen cases were notified, and in some of these defective drainage was discovered, and the action of the District Council to see the defects remedied was immediately taken. PUERPERAL FEVER.

63155ae6-7825-4fc8-b2dc-4d57eebe27d7

Only one case was notified. SUMMARY OF SANITARY WORK. Rooms, Bedding, &c. disinfected 77 Beds destroyed and replaced 1 Infectious disease visits to insure continued isolation of patients 286 House drains entirely re-constructed 89 Sanitary defects made good and other requirements provided 176 House drains and fittings tested 78 Re-visits while sanitary work was proceeding,

cc00156e-3659-4804-a8f8-cb925fca30ab

also for ascertaining whether notices were beingcomplied with 640 13 Nuisances from road gulleys, manholes and air inlets, visited and reported on 26 Nuisances from manure, animal and fish offal, house refuse,

f67fc5c4-14c5-4238-888a-d6fcabebccfd

and other deposits suppressed 125 Non-supply of water to dwellings 9 Nuisance from smoke 5 Cellar flooding 16 Over-crowding . 3 Insanitary dwellings. 4 Cesspools abolished.

802c125b-a818-40b0-8c87-4b0c2abcb3f2

2 Inspection of houses proposed to be used as baby farms 2 Inspection of common lodging house (the only one in Acton) 3 Nuisance from animals and poultry 7 Nuisance from Gypsies (their removal) 10 DETAILS OF SOME OF THE SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO DWELLINGS.

1ce3b69b-c997-4ad2-9d5a-422fac6e79c8

Soil pipes ventilated 57 Soil pipes taken outside house walls 8 Rain water pipes disconnected from soil pipes and made to discharge over gully trap 11 Roof guttering repaired and made good . 6 Defective roofs made water tight 12 Delapidated walls and ceilings repaired 10 Back yards and stable yards paved 20 Recepticles for stable manure provided .

be6fc510-fa25-45b4-8e7d-49ec11ad0200

2 14 Waste pipe from scullery sinks trapped and made to discharge over gully. 39 House cisterns removed from closets . 2 Insanitary bell traps replaced by siphon pully 7 Air inlets provided for ground floors of dwellings. 9 Waste preventors provided for closets 70 Defective closets replaced by sanitary apparatus .

59080f36-866a-4872-830e-cf760a9630ac

85 Sewer air interceptors and air inlets to house drains 84 Dustbins provided 15 Dry areas and damp proof cources provided 4 Number of formal complaints entered and detailed in the Complaint Book 185 Inspection of Bakehouses 25 „ „ Dairies . 12 „ „ Cow Sheds .

8143d240-8013-430f-a225-b6572eed3c9f

95 „ „ Slaughter Houses 138 „ „ Piggeries 166 A quantity of fish, and a small amount of fruit were condemned as unfit for human consumption. Believe me, Gentlemen, Yours obediently, G. A. GARRY SIMPSON, Medical Officer. 7, Churchfield Road, East Acton, W.