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17
Section II.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Small-Pox.—There were no cases of small-pox in Chelsea in 1910.
In London, during the year 1910, 7 cases of the disease were notified, as
compared with 23 in 1909, 4 in 1908, 9 in 1907, 31 in 1906, 74 in 1905,
and 492 in 1904.
Scarlet Fever.—In 1910, 119 cases of scarlet fever were notified in
Chelsea, equivalent to a case-rate of 15.8 per 10,000 of the population, as
against 40.7 in 1909. The number of cases notified in the first quarter of
the year was 31, in the second quarter 38, in the third quarter 23, and in
the fourth quarter 27. The largest number of cases occurring in any one
month was 21 in April, and the lowest 5 in June. There was no special
school incidence in respect of scarlet fever. In North Chelsea 64 cases
were notified during the year, and in South Chelsea 55 cases. The
percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13 years) of the total number in
the Borough was 66.4, as compared with 68 in 1909. The average
duration of the stay in hospital of 109 cases, of which the records are to
hand, was 66.8 days, as against 59.5 in 1909.
Fourteen cases admitted to the M.A.B. hospitals were subsequently
certified by the Medical Superintendents of those institutions not to be
suffering from scarlet fever or any other notifiable disease. The average
duration of the stay in hospital of 10 of these cases was 22.8 days, as
against 21 days in 1909. Six cases on discharge from M.A.B. hospitals
were stated to be still suffering from otorrhœa or rhinorrhœa, as against
5 in 1909. So far as is known, none of these cases were the means of
spreading infection after return to their homes. During the year there
were 3 instances of possible "return" cases of scarlet fever, the intervals
elapsing between the return home from hospital of the infecting case and
the onset of the disease in the secondary case being respectively, one case
8 days, 2 cases 6 days.
Diphtheria.—In 1910, 81 cases of diphtheria (including 3 of
membranous croup) were notified in Chelsea, equivalent to a case-rate of
10.7 per 10,000 of population, as compared with 12.9 in 1909. In the
first quarter of the year 10 cases were notified, in the second quarter 13,
in the third quarter 22, and in the fourth quarter 36. The percentage of
cases of school ages (3 to 13 years) of the total number in the Borough
was 72.8, as against 68 in 1909. In North Chelsea 27 cases were notified,
and in South Chelsea 54. The months of most prevalence were October
and November—16 cases in each month. In December the number fell
to 4.
The average duration of stay in hospital of 55 cases, of which the
records are to hand, was 60 days, as against 55 in 1909. Four cases
admitted during the year to the M.A.B. hospitals were subsequently
certified by the Medical Superintendents of those institutions not to be
suffering from diphtheria or any other notifiable disease, the corresponding