[Report 1906] / Medical Officer of Health, Loughborough Borough.
- Loughborough (England). Borough Council.
- Date:
- 1906
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1906] / Medical Officer of Health, Loughborough Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
5/22 page 5
![DIARRHOEA. This disorder was very prevalent, especially during the months of August and September, and caused no fewer than 50 deaths during the year, 44 of these being of children under one year of age. Apart from local conditions, hot weather, especially when prolonged, as it was this year, has a tendency to produce diarrhoea and other gastro intestinal disorders, as the process of oxidation in the lungs is not carried on as vigorously by the rarefied atmosphere which necessarily exists, consequently greater activity of the liver is necessary in the purification of the blood, resulting in a large increase of fatty acids and bile, which act as intestinal irritants producing diarrhoea, and, doubtless, this natural cause has contributed largely to the greatly increased number of cases this year. It must, however, be remembered that while year after year, with varying severity, we have an annual epidemic of summer or autumn diarrhoea, no such epidemic occurs in the villages situated on the high grounds surrounding this Borough. There is no doubt that in the surface soil, as also probably in the sub-soil of the low lying parts of Loughborough, and the Soar valley generally, there exist permanently micro-organisms productive of diarrhoea. These increase enormously in hot weather, and as the surface soil in such weather dries and breaks down to dust, such dust carrying disease germs, is blown about, and inhaled, and also deposited in milk, and on other food stuffs, producing disease in susceptible persons. Improper feeding, dirty and sour bottles, badly ventilated dwellings are all factors in the production of this disease. I made a special report on this epidemic, on the 1st October last, in which I recommended the total abolition of insanitary midden privies, and also of pail closets in unsuitable situations ; I also pointed out the large number of gardens at the backs of cottages which, intended for cultivation, are neglected, and serve only for receiving filth and rubbish thrown on the surface, producing a nuisance in hot weather. I would recommend that these so-called gardens be regarded as yards, and be ordered to be paved throughout. I still believe that, notwithstanding the large increase of this year, steady and continued improvement in the general sanitary condition of the town will have the effect of largely diminish¬ ing the infant mortality from this cause. I recommend that the practice of distributing bills containing instructions as to feeding infants, and also as to domestic sanitation be continued. TOWN IMPROVEMENTS. Plans passed New Houses 104 Shops 9 Works and Workshops 12 Temporary Buildings 10 Alterations and additions to Premises 23 Offices 2 Arcade 1 HIGHWAY COMMITTEE. The following private street has been “ made up ” and insanitary conditions removed :—Brook Side. The Woodbrook has been cleansed through the town. Sewer Ventilating Columns have been erected in Cumberland Road, Glebe Street, and Empress Road. Pavements have been laid with concrete slabs in Sparrow Hill, Granby Street, Nottingham Road, Ashby and Derby Squares, Mill Street, High Street, Great Central Road, Clarence Street, Swan Street, Ashby Road, and Broad Street. The following streets were completed with blue brick paving :—Leopold Street, Paget Street, Station Street, and George Street. Extensions of the Electric Light have been made to The Rushes, Granby Street, Devonshire Square, Bedford Square, High Street, Ashbv Square, and experiments are now being made with an extension of incandescent gas lighting. The sewers have been regularly flushed with the portable flushing tank, and the sewers periodically cleansed. WATER COMMITTEE. The great event of the year was the completion and opening of the Blackbrook Reservoir, on the 12th September. Owing to the fact that water was impounded at Blackbrook from the beginning of the year, it was possible to give a supply under constant pressure throughout the year, and in consequence no restrictions were put upon the supply. This is a state of things which has not obtained for several years, due to lack of storage capacity. The Water Mains have been extended in the following street :—Arthur Street. The Watersheds have been carefully patrolled and steps taken to avoid and prevent pollution of the streams yielding our supplies. Analyses of the Blackbrook water have been made and reported on as being satisfactory. The Committee have resolved to proceed with the construction of new Filters at Nanpantan immediately. [3]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29743060_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
