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as a result of influenza during the lying-in period would rightly be notified as a case of puerperal
pyrexia, even although the influenza was not in any way resulting from the confinement.
On the other hand, puerperal fever is the definite infection associated in some ways with
parturition. Throughout the country there has been notification of puerperal pyrexia only
and this latest regulation brings London into line with England as a whole.
It will be realised that puerperal pyrexia includes puerperal fever.
Scabies.
It is pleasing to note that the incidence of scabies has lessened within the last few
years. 138 cases were notified during the year 1948, as compared with—
300 in 1947.
699 in 1946.
887 in 1945.
931 in 1944.
Scarlet Fever.
The number of cases notified was 132 as compared with 124 during the previous
year. Ten cases were not subsequently confirmed. The actual number of cases was therefore
122. No death occurred.
Return Cases.—This term is applied to cases of Scarlet Fever which occur in a house
within 28 days of the return from hospital of a previous case. There were only two such
cases during the year.
Multiple cases in one house—that is, several cases occurring more or less together—are
not as frequent as one might expect. In five families there were two such cases, and in one
institution there were three cases.
Smallpox and Vaccination.
There was no case of smallpox in the Borough during the year 1948.