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57
SMALL-POX.
No case of this disease was notified during the year.

SCARLET FEYER.
The deaths from Scarlet Fever in the Borough were 9 during 1910,
as against 14, 24, 35, 45 and 28 for the preceding five years. The usual
cycle of five years, that scarlet fever in its incidence has been observed to
take for many years past, has extended this year, as, instead of the
disease taking an up grade this year, the decline in the number of cases
still continues.
The small fatality from the disease is remarkable. This is due
either to a growing immunity to the disease, or to improvement in the
conditions under which our inhabitants live.
The severity of the complaint is much affected by the unwholesome
home surroundings of the patients. Where overcrowding and foul
smelling rooms exist the disease is always more fatal. To avoid the
unpleasant consequences of the disease children should be well fed,
warmly clad, and the rooms of the house well ventilated.
In no part of the district can there be said to have been any special
outbreak of the disease as the cases have been pretty evenly scattered
about the Borough.
Every case has been as usual, carefully inquired into, and a full
statement of all contacts sent on to those interested or concerned in the
matter.
The total number of cases notified was 419, as against 590 for 1909.
The percentage of deaths to the total cases notified was 2.1.
The annual mortality per 1,000 living was 0.04.