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40
OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
comparable with that observed in the other disease. It is true that the mortality has
decreased but there has not been that shortening of the "swing of the pendulum " observed in
measles. This is apparent from the following figures.*
Mean rates. Maximum. Minimum.
1897-1903 0.32 0.39 0.14
1904-1910 0.20 0.33 0.07
Last year's nett mortality in the Borough was three times that recorded in the
Metropolis (Table 10) and was exceeded by that of Marylebone (0.34) only. In all districts,
except Paddington and Marylebone, last year's rates were below the respective mean rates.
OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Cases of German measles, chicken pox, mumps and ringworm are reported by the teachers
of the public elementary schools, and occasionally by other persons. German measles is not
distinguished, for administrative purposes, from measles and the cases reported are included
in the quarterly totals for the latter disease. During the past year 77 cases were reported, as
compared with 10 in 1909. The quarterly numbers of the other diseases are given below,
those for 1909 being shown in italic type in parentheses. There was no death during the year
from any of these diseases.
Quarters 1. 2. 3. 4. Year.
Chickenpox 222 (100) 103(73) 55(45) 140 (128) 520(344)
Ringworm 41 (45) 24 (49) 13 (40) 24 (42) 102 (176)
Mumps 31 (211) 23 (114) 3 (30) 12 (65) 79 (420)
The following notes of an outbreak of illness simulating "food poisoning" appear to be
suitable for report under "Other Infectious Diseases."
On June 14th, the House-Physician of the Hampstead General Hospital informed the
Department that he had under his care two servants, admitted from Paddington as urgent
cases, with all the symptoms of food poisoning, and that he understood that those two
cases formed part of an extensive outbreak of that disease. From enquiries made at the
house whence the servants were admitted and from the medical practitioners in attendance,
it was ascertained that during the night of June 10-llth, eight out of 29 inhabitants of a highclass
boarding-house had been suddenly attacked with diarrhoea and vomiting. The 29
inhabitants comprised 20 guests (with 3 cases), 7 servants (with 5 cases), and the two
proprietors, who were not attacked. All the patients were females, and, with one exception,
of fairly mature ages.
The symptoms were practically the same in all the cases, but one patient was much less
severely attacked than the rest. That patient had, by a coincidence, taken a purgative on
the night of the 9th, and the resultant free action of her bowels during the 10th, was probably
the reason of her exemption from an attack of any severity. All the patients had severe
abdominal pain, followed by vomiting and severe and persistent diarrhoea, which would not
* If a comparison be made between the alternative periods suggested in connection with measles, the figures
are practically to the same effect:
Mean rates. Maximum. Minimum.
1895-1902 0.36 0.44 0.14
1903-1910 0.25 0.36 0. 07