[Report 1900] / Medical Officer of Health, Northumberland County Council.

  • Northumberland (England). County Council
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1900] / Medical Officer of Health, Northumberland County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/56 (page 43)
    Hexham. Medical Officer of Health, R. Botjstead, L.R.C.P.,L.R.C.S.,D.P.H.,L.M. Area, 200,977 acres ; Estimated population, 28,855; Birth rate, 25.50; Death rate, *15.45; Zymotic death rate, 0.86; Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births), 161.68; Phthisis death rate, 1.31; Death rate from Respira¬ tory Diseases, 1.83. All the above rates have decreased, (with the exception of the Infant Mortality rate, which lias increased by 11.48), as follows :—Birth rate, 0.24; Death rate, 1.34; Zymotic death rate, 0.60; Phthisis death rate, 0.22; and Respiratory death rate, 0.46. Of the total deaths (446), 119 were of children under 1 year, and 131 were of persons 65 years and upwards. Heart disease caused 48 deaths, Phthisis1 38 (a decrease of 6), Respiratory diseases 53, and Zymotic diseases 25. One hundred and fifty-eight cases of infectious disease were notified, as follows :—Diphtheria 11 ; Membranous Croup 1 ; Erysipelas 25 ; Scarlet fever 111; Enteric fever 3; Continued fever 5; and Puerperal fever 2. The diseases were notified from the following sub-districts:—-Allendale 15 ; By well 95 ; Chollerton 41; and Hexham 7. Scarlet fever was very prevalent (111 cases), in the following sub¬ districts :—Bywell 62, Allendale 13, Chollerton 35, and Hexham 1. The Newb rough Schools, Butt Bank, and the Ninebanks Schools were closed for a short period, in] order to prevent the farther spread of the disease. The number of cases of Diphtheria (11), shows a decrease of 40 over last year’s return; the cases occurred in the following sub-districts By¬ well 8 ; Allendale 1 ; Chollerton 1 ; and Hexham 1. Only 3 cases of Enteric fever were notified, from the following sub¬ districts :—Allendale 1 ; Bywell 1; and Hexham 1. Improvements. Over 30 new dwellings have been erected. Plans for an Isolation Hospital have been prepared, and laid before the Local Government Board, but difficulties as to site and construction prevent the work being proceeded with. The septic tanks at Halfway House are now in operation. Fresh water supplies have been provided at Stagshaw North Cottage, Low House Farm, and at the Kennels, A great number of nuisances have been abated, these include, faulty drains, dampness, depositing refuse on public roads, and many other, both sanitary and structural defects. Part of the main sewers at Allendale, Newton, and Prudhoe have been extended. Requirements. Artisans dwellings are urgently needed, especially in tihie East of the district, where the demand! is far in excess of the supply. An Isolation Hospital, and steam disinfector are required. The water schemes at Minsteracres, and Haydon Bridge, should be carried out with¬ out further delay. * 14’93 if 14 deaths from accidents and 1 suicide are deducted. Morpeth. Medical Officer of Health, W. Clarkson, L.R, C.P., L.F.P.S. Area, 74,652 acres; Estimated population, 17,260 ; Birthrate, 24.50; Death rate, *12.16; Zymotic death rate, 0.98; Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births), 130.02; Phthisis death rate, 1.15; Death rate from Respira¬ tory diseases, 1.56. Of the above rates the Birth, General Death, and Respiratory death rates have all decreased, by 3.44, 0.36, and 0.20 respectively. The Zymotic and Phthisis death rates have increased, the former by 0.10, and the latter by 0.51 ; the Infant Mortality rate shows the substantial decrease of 23.66 per 1,000 births. Of the total deaths (210), 55 were of children under 1 year, and 50 of persons 65 years, and upwards. Zymotic diseases caused 17 deaths (Enteric fever 1, and Diarrhoea 16). Phthisis caused 20