The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-02-17 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

MEDICAL OFFICERS REPORT. Mr. J. S. Baly's report on the sanitary o arlition of Leamington during the past year, after reeiting the usual statistics as to acreage and population, proceeded to state that 565 births wete registered during the year, giving an annual birth-rite of 21.3. The births were 53 below thoirs of 1881, and 71 less than those in the preceding year. Daring the 12 months 357 deaths —l6B males and 189 females—were registered, being 11 more than in the preceding year. and giving an annual death rate of 15.2 per 1,000. Deducting deaths in the public Ii spitals. not belonging to the borough, and titling those of Leamington paupirs in the Warwick Union Workhouse, the death-rate was 15,1. One hundred and five children died under five years el age, giving an infantile death-rate of 4.4 per 1.0•0 inhabitants, the hig.liest rate of infantile mortality (6.1) being in No. 6 district, and the lowest (2.9) in district No. 2. One hundred and thirty-iine deaths were registered at GO years and upwards. Of this number 23 died between 80 and 90, and six at 90 years and upwards, the oldest death being that of a female 'wed 96. The largest numb-r of deaths amongst aged' peaple (39) was in district No. 2. rhe following were some of the principal causes of death: —Measles, 7; scarlatina, 2; diphtheria, 2 ; croup, 1 ; putrifus, ; diarrhrea, 10 ; ery,ipelas, 3 : puerperal fever, 1; phthisia, 39 ; bronchitis, pneumonia, drc., 51 ; heart disease, 26; variou‘ forms of cancer, 15 ; prea:ature births and inanitation, accidents and suicide, 6. The death-rate from six of the seven principal zymotiii diseases was 1.2 per 1,000. Scarlatina, fortunately of a mild type. had existed in an epidemic form throughout the whole year. It was most prevalent during the winter and wanton quarters, but not a single month passed over without one or more cases being reported. One hundred and thirty cases ot this description were reported, and GO cases were removed from their owir homes to the sanatorium at Warwick. Ile was pleased to be able to report that the prejudice formerly existing against the use of that institution was rapidly subsiding, and that during the year several instances occurred of parents applying themselves for the removal of their children into the hospital. During some portion of the year measles assumed an epidemic form. and seven deaths were registered, six more Clan in 1881. Four cases of diphtheria were reported, and two children under five years of age died. In one instance the outbreak was traced to toe escape of g,as fro o the dead end of a sewer ; in the other, to the unsanitary state of the houses in which the patient  had lived. Only four patients suffering from enteric fever were brought under his notice One, from Johnstreet, was removed to the sanatorium; the others were treated at their own homes. All the cases recovered. lii one instance ti.e disease arose from the use of impure water; in two others a cesspool was discovered beneath the basement floor of the house. In the fourth no cause could be assigned for the appearance of the disease. Slice 1870, when the street sewers were first ventilated, the deaths from typhoid fever have gradually diminished. Ten deaths from diarrhoea were registered, the same number as in 1881, but five below the average of the previous 10 years. Six of these deaths occurred during the summer quarter, but owing doubtless to the abnormally low temperature, infantile diirrhs was mach less prevalent than in many former years. The deaths from bronchitis, phthisis, and heart disease were in each case slightly below the average. It would be remembered, the report went on to observe that at the end of 1881 it was determined to offer a small fee to those me ical men who forwarded reports of cases of zymotic diseases that came under their observation. This plan had worked well, nearly 100 untie s beinp received during the year from the various medical men of the borough. It pointed out. in conclusion, that the water drawn from the artesian well hd continued as pure in quality and as abundant in quantity as in former years. This concluded the business .