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13
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The year 1909 has been remarkable for the somewhat lower rate of
incidence of infectious disease. Not only have fewer cases been reported on
vessels arriving, but fewer cases have occurred within the Port, and the
number treated in Denton Hospital has been lower than that of any year in
the past decade.
With regard to Cholera, which is elsewhere reported, three cases were
reported as having occurred on vessels arriving in the Port, whilst one case,
which was suspicious, was landed at Denton Hospital for observation.
One case of Yellow Fever has been reported, four cases of Plague
occurred on vessels during the voyage, and one suspected case removed to
Hospital at Gravesend.
Enteric Fever was responsible for the largest number of cases on vessels
arriving in the Port, and with the cases of Scarlet Fever which occurred,
principally on Training Ships in the River, formed the bulk of the diseases
dealt with.
Of Small-pox, 27 cases were reported on vessels during the voyage and
otherwise, but only 4 cases of this disease were admitted to Hospital.
This disease appears to have been prevalent in the Levantine Ports during
the year, having probably travelled thither from India.
Although the total number of cases of Infectious Disease generally has
been much lower than usual, it is not safe to record this as having any special
significance. It is sometimes characteristic of infectious diseases, as is shown
by a perusal of records in the past for the number to increase again in
subsequent years to a certain point, and then again to decline after the
manner of a wave.