The annual report of Dr. Morris, the Medical Officer of Health for Rushden, was presented at a meeting of the Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday, and is as follows:-

  The Rushden Urban District contains an estimated population of 14,190, against 14,089 of last year.  The number of inhabited houses is 2,838.

  The number of births registered has been 351, giving a birth-rate of 24.736 per 1,000.  The registered deaths have been 122, giving a death-rate of 8.597 per 1,000.

  The infant mortality has been 113.988 per 1,000, of which eight have been premature.

Zymotic Diseases

  Smallpox – No case has been reported.

  Diphtheria – Two cases have been reported; no deaths.

  Scarlet Fever – Fifty-eight cases have been reported, with five deaths, four being between one and five years, and one over five years.

  Measles – Not notifiable; no death.

  Enteric Fever – One case reported; no death.

  Puerperal Fever – One case; no death.

  Erysipelas – Seven cases reported; one death.

  Whooping Cough – Not notifiable; no death.

  Diarrhoea and Enteritis have caused six deaths – one between one and two months, one between six and seven months, one between seven and eight months, one between 10 and 11 months, one between one and five years, one between 15 and 25 years.

Respiratory Diseases

  Bronchitis has caused 13 deaths – one between one and two weeks, one between one and two months, one between four and five months, one between five and six months, one between eight and nine months, four between one and five years, two between 25 and 65 years, one over 65 years.

  Pneumonia has been accountable for four deaths, one between 5 and 15 years, two between 25 and 65 years, one over 65 years.

  Phthisis has caused 13 deaths – seven between 15 and 25 years, six between 25 and 65.

  Other Tubercular Diseases have caused five deaths – one between eight and nine months, two between one and five years, one between 5 and 15 years, one between 25 and 65 years.

  Influenza has caused one death – over 65 years of age.

Heart Disease

has been responsible for seven deaths – two between five and 15 years, three between 25 and 65 years, and two over 65 years.

Cancer

and malignant disease have caused eight deaths – five between 25 and 65 years, three over 65 years.

Remarks

  The infant mortality has been slightly in excess of last year.  The principal cause of the large infant mortality is improper feeding.  In the early part of this year a number of cards were circulated, containing rules for the proper feeding of infants, yet the infant mortality has increased.  It has been generally supposed that cow’s milk contains numerous microbes and that it ought to be sterilized before use.  Only a few days ago, a deputation, including some of the heads of the profession, waited upon the President of the Local Government Board, and protested against the sterilization of milk, and stated that it was injurious and caused rickets and other diseases.

  The deaths from

Phthisis

have been three times that of last year.

  Some Medical Officers of Health are advocating the notification of that disease, while others, like myself, do not agree with that doctrine.  The Notification Act has not prevented any one of the diseases it was promised to do, and would, in my opinion, only cause an increased expense on the rates.  With regard to the so-called prevention of consumption by sending patients to sanatoria, they are sent after the disease is established, sometimes in an advanced stage.  Where they are under proper and constant supervision, well and suitably fed, with nothing to do but sit or walk about in a healthy situation, they certainly improve as long as they are there; but how is it when they return to their homes in a town and resume their work in a

Crowded Factory?

  Ere long they begin to lose what they have gained, and gradually, some rapidly, decline.  In my opinion, the only way to prevent consumption is to live a different life, free from the excitement and pleasure of the present day.  The craze for pleasure, and the constant restlessness and excitement, are rapidly sapping the constitution of the present age, not only as regards consumption, but in the alarming increase of insanity, for which the present system of education is sadly to blame.  Children of tender years are forced beyond their strength, and their brains exhausted by cramming with a lot of useless knowledge which is utterly worthless in enabling them to get a living.  Science is now, and has been for some years, striving to beat nature, but, depend upon it, nature will conquer in the end.

  During the year the

Waterworks

Have been completed, and a constant supply of good water is available.  Several samples of water have been examined – those found polluted were condemned.

  Owing to an outbreak of measles, the Infant Schools were closed on Dec. 13 until after the Christmas holidays.

  The Sewage Farm is well managed, and the results are satisfactory.

  All factories, workshops, work-places, etc., have been visited and inspected at intervals during the year.

  The low death-rate, 8.597 per 1,000, conclusively shows the sanitary state of the town, whereas the average death-rate of England and Wales is 15 per 1,000.

  In conclusion, I beg to tender my best thanks to your late and present Inspectors for the assistance they have so courteously rendered in carrying out our united duties.

Discussion

  The Chairman thought they might congratulate themselves on the extremely low death-rate.

  Mr. Knight thought the sanitary condition of the town must be very satisfactory.

  The Chairman observed that some of the remarks of the Medical Officer hardly appeared to coincide with the lecture given in the town last week.  It did not appear that the Officer favoured the scheme for the provision of sanatoria for consumptive patients.

  Dr. Morris: I do not.

  Mr. Bazeley said he agreed with Dr. Morris to a great extent, at least with regard to working men patients.  Such patients appeared to improve while at a sanatorium, but rapidly fell back in returning to work in a factory.  He thought sanatoria were more adapted for the well-to-do than for working men.

  Dr. Morris said his own opinion was the result of his observations on cases treated at sanatoria.

  Mr. Denton thought they would all agree that the results of treatment at sanatoria had not been such as had been hoped for, but he thought they should be extremely careful before they committed themselves to a hopeless attitude.  He went on to speak of the necessity of giving very careful attention to the milk supply.

  Dr. Morris said the purity of the milk supply was a most important matter.  It would be the duty of the veterinary inspector to inspect the cows in the town and make sure they were in a healthy condition.

  Mr. Skinner thought the prevalence of consumption in the district was due to the fact that it lay in a valley.  He believed the disease was contagious, and that patients suffering from it should be isolated as much as possible.

  The Chairman asked whether it was the opinion of the Medical Officer that it would be advisable to ask the medical men of the town to voluntarily notify cases of consumption.

  Dr. Morris: I don’t think you would get that, and if you did I don’t see what advantage it would be.

  Mr. Claridge, referring to the Sanitary Inspector’s report, asked whether it was correct that there were only 50 empty houses.

  The Sanitary Inspector: Quite correct.  I got the figures from the Rate Collector.

  Mr. Claridge: Because it was stated this afternoon that there were 100.