The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1908-04-29 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

REDUCTION IN TH.E DEATH RATE. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. KenYon) in his &nuns.' report abates that during 1907 the births registered in the district numibered 401. being at the rate of 24.9 per 1,000 persons living in the district, as compared With 21.6 in 1906, and 25.3, the average of the ten years 1867-1906. The birth rate for all England and Wales in 1906 was 27. The deaths of pereans belonging to the dietriat during the year xrcaubered 171. This Was at the rate of 10.36 per 1,000 persons living in the &strict, as compared with 21.6 in 1906 and 12.4, the average of the ten yews 1907-1906. The death rate for the whole of England and Wales in 1906 wee 15.4. The percentage of deaths of infanta under one year of age to births registered wee 6.5. as compared with 7.5 in 1906 and 10.0 the average of the ten years, and as compared with 13.3 for the whale of England and Wales in 1906. Both the =Pal and infantile death rates are vary  The causes of death included 2 from whooping cough, 2 from diphtheria, 1 from typhoid fever, 2 from influenza, 1 from diarrhas, 14 from phthisis, 5 from other tubercular disease, 14 from cancer, 26 from bronchitis or pneumonia, 2 from alcoholism or cirrhosis of the liver, 7 from premature birth, 16 from heart diseases, 6 from I aocidents and 1 suicide. Under the Notification of nfectious Diseases Act were reported 19 oases of diphtheria, 4 of erysipelas, 22 of scarlet fever, 5 of typhoid fever in the district, and 29 a sudden outbreak in the workhouse, 1 of puerperal fever, and 1 of cereficcoepinal meningitis. Of these came of diphtheria, 1 of erysipelas, 10 of scarlet fever, and 2 of typhoid fever, were removed to hospital. Apart from the outbreak in the workhouse, notifiable infectious disease had been mach lies prevalent than in the previous year. in 1907 there were 46 oases of all kinds, Ansi in 1906, 66. There were in 1907 but, as compared with 1906, half as many oases of typhoid fever, and less h-alf of scarlet fever. There had been, however, an increase in diphtheria, the number in 1906 being only Bof this complaint. The single case of cerebrospinal meningitis occurred in March; it was a well marked case. It was in a house where there was ample accommodation and nursing, and made a good recovery. The situation of the house was not far from the entrance to the Ship Canal. The origin of the attack could not be traced; but it would be recognised that the place was a mach frequented one as regards traffic. There was no spread of infection attributiable to milk supply, or water, Cir any comon sewerage system. On one occasion a school was closed by its managers as a precautionary measure against scarlet fever. Another school wee closed by the managers for a week in consequence of a case of diphtheria arising in the schoolanacter'a family. Other schools were closed by managers for several weeks on account of mumps, whooping cough, or chicken pox, causing a great falling off in attendance. The outbreak of typhoid fever lin the workhouse occurred in Ocedberr. The Medical Officer and the Guardians dealt promptly and efficiently with the outbreak, and it was at ewe arrested. It was confined to the children in the workhouse. Referring to the sewerage of the district, the doctor states that in. canners tion with the Fender Valley eewerage scheme, diming the year, work had been carried on in Bidston to effect improvements in some of the old sewers in that township. By this means causes of complaint of long standing had been removed. In Moreton the sewers were practically complete. The cause of the delay in the completion of the Wiliest= scheme had now been removed, and the work still remaining to be done was now about to be proceeded with. The Council were about to make a further attempt to provide the necessary sewerage for Thornton Hough. The Clerk stated that the Local Government Board had considered the annual report especially in. relation to the milk supply, and had Heat a request for the Medical Officer to prepare a report on the 934 dairies, cowsheds, and milk shops that had been inspected during the year, showing how many of these were liable to regietraition. the quantity of milk sent away in. whblesale quantities, and also the sanitary condition of the premises at the last inspection. The Chairman said these particulars were probably required in view of the new Bill that was being brought in by Mr. John Burns. They expected this Bill to but a good deal would have to be done first. The work of the milk producers should be carried on in such a way that no poeible reproach °odd be made against them. Only the best and purest milk pught to be sent into the towns, and the sanitary arrangements, the cattle, and all the apparatus ought to be above criticism. He (the chairman) welcomed this request from the Local Government Board, as he was perfectly certain that there were scores of shippone in Wirral that ought to be in a better sanitary condition than they were, atpecially in regard to water supply. • The matter wag referred to the Medical Officer.