Dr. Morris, Medical Officer of Health for Rushden, presented his annual report at the meeting of the Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday.  Having estimated the population of the town at 14,291, the doctor proceeded:-

  There were registered during the year 315 births, or at the rate of 22.04 per 1000.

  The deaths from all causes numbered 126, or at the rate of 8.81 per 1000 of the population.

  Only two midwives are on the register.

  Of the infants under one year of age there were 25 deaths (or at the rate of 79.3 per 1000 registered births), seven of which were premature.

  The total number of infectious diseases notified during the year is thirteen.

  Smallpox. – No case has been notified.  (One contact was, however, notified by another district in the early part of the year and placed in quarantine.  Fortunately no outbreak occurred.)

  Diphtheria and membranous croup. – Three cases were notified, with two deaths (one under five).

  Scarlet fever (scarlatina). – Five cases were notified and no deaths, only one being under five years of age.  On September 18 I received information that a Rushden woman was visiting at Bedford with her child, who had contracted scarlet fever there, and intended bringing the child home.  I at once telegraphed to the Medical Officer of Health at Bedford, asking him to take steps to prevent her doing so, and also informed the Rushden Council of what I had done.  The case was detained at Bedford until certified that the child was convalescent.  By this  prompt action, what might have been a serious outbreak was prevented.

  Enteric fever (typhoid). – Four cases were notified, with one death.

  Puerperal fever. – No case was notified.

  Erysipelas. – One case was notified.

  Whooping cough. – (Not notifiable.)  No death.  There has, however, been quite an epidemic of this malady during the winter months.

  Diarrhoea and enteritis have caused two deaths, one under one year and one over sixty-five years of age.

  Measles (not notifiable) has caused six deaths, all over five years of age.

  Bronchitis and pneumonia have caused nineteen deaths, four under one year and fifteen over.

  Phithisis has caused eleven deaths, all between fifteen and sixty-five years of age.

  Other tubercular diseases have caused five deaths (two under five years and three over).

  Influenza has caused two deaths.

  Heart Disease. – Thirteen deaths have occurred.  Three between fifteen and twenty-five years, two between twenty-five and sixty-five, and eight over sixty-five years.

  Cancer and malignant diseases. – Five deaths have occurred.  Three between twenty-five and sixty-five years of age and two over sixty-five.

  The schools were closed during the month of January on account of an outbreak of measles.  The infantile mortality has been considerably less, no doubt owing to the improvement in the sanitary conditions of the district, and the absence of any serious epidemic of infectious disease, the number of infectious cases notified being remarkably small.

  The deaths from phthisis, as will be seen, were only eleven, as against thirteen last year.  I may say I have nothing to add to or retract from my remarks of last year as to the prevention of phthisis.

  I have analysed three samples of well water during the year.  Two were found totally unfit for drinking purposes.  With the plentiful supply of excellent water available the sooner the few remaining private supplies are abolished the better.

  The great majority of pail closets have been abolished, and with the necessary addition of a large number of water closets great pressure has been brought to bear upon the limited capacities at the sewage farm, especially so during the extraordinary wet season we have experienced.

  Before closing my remarks, I cannot refrain from speaking of the exceedingly able manner in which your Inspector (Mr. H. Hunter) has carried out the very heavy duties of his office during the past year, and thank him for the assistance he has so courteously rendered in carrying out our united duties.