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As compared with the figures of 1899, there was a decrease in the number of cases o f
infectious diseases certified, except in the case of small-pox which shews an increase of
2. The deaths from notifiable infectious disease numbered 99 as compared with
121 in 1899, 96 in 1893, 136 in 1897, 135 in 1896, 117 in 1895. Deaths from scarlet
fever and puerperal fever shew a slight increase, whilst the deaths from diphtheria,
enteric fever and erysipelas are decreased in numbers. Deaths from infectious
diseases which are not notifiable were at the rate of 0.8 per 1000 inhabitants ; deaths
from the principal zymotic diseases which are not required to be notified were at the
rate of 2.4 per 1000.
METROPOLITAN ASYLUMS BOARD.
The cases of small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria and enteric fever numbered 808
and of these 685* or 84.7 per cent. were removed to hospital for treatment, mainly to
the hospital of the Asylums Board. The percentages of removals to hospitals for
previous years were:—82.4 per cent. in 1899, 81.4 in 1898, 71.4 in 1897, 65 in 1896,
57 in 1895, and 61 in 1894. Prom these figures it is apparent that the use of hospital
treatment and isolation by the people of Shoreditch is still increasing.
Two instances of "return'' cases came under my notice during the year, one of
diphtheria and the other of scarlet fever. In the latter the circumstances of the case
pointed to the recurrence of the disease being due to infection through the return of the
patient from the fever hospital. Dr. W. J. R. Simpson, who made investigation with
respect to "return" cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria on behalf of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board during the six months from October 1898 to March 1899, found that
during that period 1.3 per cent of the total discharges from the Boards' hospitals were
sources of infection in the case of scarlet fever and 0.5 per cent. in the case of
diphtheria, proportions which, considering all circumstances, are hardly to be regarded
as excessive.
SMALL-POX.
Three cases of small-pox were notified : one on January 17th, the patient being a
widow named D— — M— —, aged 29, living at No. 8, H— —Road, and working at a
baby-linen establishment in St. Luke's; she was taken ill on January 13th, the
eruption showing itself on the 16th; vaccination had been performed in infancy and
two sears were visible, one good and one indifferent. From Christmas until January
1st, this patient had been staying at a house in C— —Road, Hackney; next door,
some cases of small-pox had occurred and there had been others also in the same
street. The probability is that D— —M— —contracted the disease in this neighbourhood.
The patient, who made a good recovery, was promptly removed to hospital,
precautions as to disinfection, vaccination, and re-vaccination were taken, and the
of these cases, 33—namely, 12 of enteric fever, 6 of scarlet fever, and 15 of diphtheria —
were found, after sojourning in the hospitals, not to be, in tho opinion of the medical
officer, suffering as Certified.