TKANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 407 



of its more valuable constituents, and that tbe soil tbrough wbicli it bas 

 been passed bas gained those substances that were most deficient in it, 

 after having been exhausted by cropping. 



In conclusion, we can unhesitatingly assert that the sewage 

 system has so far been an unqualified success. Its benefits 

 are directly felt owing to the large amount of sewage which is 

 daily removed from the district, and indirectly from the lower- 

 ing of the level of saturation, which has conduced so largely to 

 the health of the people. As houses are more freely connected 

 with the sewers, so will the direct benefit be more appre- 

 ciated and felt, and we can only express the hope that the 

 ratepayers at large will be sensible of this fact. 



3. On the Begistration of Disease. 



By Isaiah de Zouche, M.D. 



The object of this paper was to urge the official registration of 

 disease, both on scientific and practical grounds, and the valua 

 of a State record of disease as regards its prevention was 

 pointed out. The medical officers of health should be notified 

 of the outbreak of any disease, with all the surrounding cir- 

 cumstances, — locality, temperature, rainfall, sewage, ventila- 

 tion, — and these records would then be of value in dealing with 

 subsequent epidemics. Notification should be made in the 

 first place to the medical ofiicer of health, so that preventive 

 measures might be taken. The difficulty of stamping out was 

 acknowledged ; but at least isolation and disinfection could be 

 practised, and public tittention called to the presence of infec- 

 tious disease by registration and publication. The author 

 referred to the ignorance of the public as regards the danger 

 (to others) of "mild " typhoid and " mild " scarlatina; to the 

 importance of inquiry as to the origin of each case of disease ; 

 and to the question of compensation for loss of business through 

 registration of any house in which zymotic disease occurs. He 

 said that zymotic diseases may be exterminated, and recom- 

 mended the registration of architects and builders, and showed 

 the desirability of their being qualified in hygiene. The author 

 spoke at length on the unwisdom of allowing unqualified per- 

 sons to treat cases of zymotic disease ; on the possible spread 

 of disease owing to their ignorance of hygiene ; the results 

 which would ensue from registration of disease; the Improve- 

 ment of Houses Acts; the periodical official inspection of 

 houses, public buildings, &c. ; and the registration of diseases 

 non-zymotic. He gave an account of what has already been 



