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3
Infectious Disease.
There were 269 cases of Infectious Disease notified during the year, an
increase of 70 as compared with the previous year. Of these two were Small-pox,
59 Diphtheria, 1 Membranous Croup, 29 Erysipelas, 15 Enteric Fever, and 163
Scarlet Fever.
Small-pox.—These two cases were at once removed to the Metropolitan
Asylums Board's Hospital at Long Reach. They had no connection with each
other, and the source of infection could not be traced in either case. No further
case occurred from either of them.
Scarlet Fever.—There were 163 cases of this disease, an increase of 65 on
the previous year. The disease was prevalent throughout the district, and did not
affect the children attending any one particular school more than those attending
another.
The majority of cases were of a mild character, and I have no doubt that
many cases of a very mild type occur which escape recognition, and that a certain
number of cases of slight sore throat unaccompanied by a rash are in reality
scarlatinal in their nature, and as such sources of infection.
In two cases children were found attending school while desquamating, and
were responsible for several cases each.
A certain number of cases were "return" cases, but the experience of this
district in that respect is in no way different from that of other districts. The
Metropolitan Asylums Board only last year issued a voluminous report prepared
by a medical man specially appointed to enquire into and report on the "return"
cases from their Hospitals.
Diphtheria.—There were 59 cases of this disease, and one of Membranous
Croup, an increase of eight on the previous year.