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Charts are given dealing with scarlet fever, diphtheria, and enteric fever,
based on the uniform plan of a temperature chart. These charts graphically
show the weekly incidence of these diseases, both for 1913 and 1914.
The Local Government Board issued on the 19th August, 1914, a circular
letter to sanitary authorities of Greater London, stating their wish that interchange
of information regarding infectious diseases should take place directly
between Medical Officers of Health and not through the Clerk's department.
Country Holidays for City Children.—A circular of the Local
Government Board, dated 25th June, to County Councils and Sanitary Authorities
embodied complaints from rural authorities that infectious diseases were
imported into their areas by these youngsters who also caused overcrowding
in the cottages. The Board remarked that more care should be exercised by
organisers and made several recommendations thereon.
This applies somewhat to our Education Committee when dispatching
children to the seaside under the benefits of King Edward's Memorial Fund of
Middlesex. We take every care in selecting the children from amongst
those recommended by the head teachers.
Small Pox. A satisfactory feature of the infectious returns for the year
is the absence of small pox from amongst them; since 1904 the district has
enjoyed a complete immunity from this disease. An epidemic of this dreadful
disease is overdue, and judging from the returns of the Vaccination Officer there
are many Edmonton children unprotected from infection, and sure to die if
attacked. There were no deaths from chicken pox.
Yaccination. The following table of vaccination returns has been
kindly supplied by Mr. Lowman, the Vaccination Officer. The top row of
figures applies to the year 1913.

* Some of the cases removed are known to have been vaccinated, but as the certificates
were not received, they could not be included in the return. It should be noted that omitting
to forward the certificate is as much an offence against the Vaccination Acts as neglecting to
have the child vaccinated. In 1907 there were only 72 certificates granted to parents who
alleged they had conscientious objection to vaccination, but there were 174 in 1908, 240 m
1909, 340 in 1910, 396 in 1911 and 490 in 1912. This large increase of persons unprotected
from smallpox will gratify no one but an anti-vaccinationist.