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108
1914]
DIPHTHERIA.
Six hundred and fifty-one cases were notified, an increase of 184 on the
decennial average, and were equal to an attack rate of 2.01 per 1,000 inhabitants,
as contrasted with the decennial rate of 1.42. The return is the highest since
1902, when 871 cases were notified. The attack rate, for the second year in
succession, was exactly the same as that for the County of London, and was
slightly lower than the rate experienced in St. Pancras and Hackney, but was
identical with that of Shoreditch.

Hospital Isolation.— 612 cases were removed to hospital for isolation
and treatment, and represented 92.9 per cent. of the known cases. This rate
is very slightly below that experienced in the preceding year. It is well that
it should be so, for this disease, especially when it assumes a serious form, is
essentially one for institutional treatment; indeed, the fatality figures show this.
Fatality.—Among the 6l2 cases treated in hospital 37 deaths occurred,
representing a fatality rate of 6 0 per cent., while in the 47 cases that were
isolated at home, 7 or 14 9 per cent. died.
Houses Infected. - The 651 cases infected 570 houses, but in each of
516 houses only one case occurred.
The number of cases in the houses are set out in the following statement:—

Number of cases occurring in Public Institutions.
Cases.
Great Northern Hospital 1
Islington Infirmary 2
London Fever Hospital 7
St. John's Road Workhouse —
10