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15
Caroline G-, aged 4, was removed to hospital with scarlet fever on
August 13th, and returned home on September 28th, after being in hospital 4G
days. Florence G-, aged 2, was taken ill with scarlet fever on October 1st,
and removed to hospital. The mother stated that she noticed nothing particular
in respect to Caroline on her return from hospital except a small reddish patch
on her upper lip beneath her nose. This patch increased in size, and when the
child came under observation on October 4th she had sore nostrils and scabbing
places on her head, besides a discharge from her nose. As another child,
Sarah C-, a relative of Caroline's, was, a day or two later, certified to have
scarlet fever, it was thought advisable for Caroline to be again isolated.
The following instance of recurrence of diphtheria occurred:—Agnes
B-, aged 10, of 49, M-Row, was removed to hospital on April 21st, and
returned home on June 14, after isolation in hospital for 54 days. On her return
she is stated to have embraced Matilda H-, of No. 51, M-Row. The
latter was taken ill with diphtheria on June 19th, and certified to have the
disease on June 24th.
The following is an instance of the recurrence of diphtheria in the same
patient: —Colin C-, aged 5, was removed to hospital on March 13th with
diphtheria. He returned home on June 7th, after having been in hospital for
86 days. On June 9th, two days after his return he was again certified and
removed to hospital with diphtheria.
The percentage of return cases in respect to the number of cases of scarlet
fever removed to hospital was 0.9, as compared with 1.7 in 1908, 1.9 in 1907
and 1.5 in 1906. It was, therefore, considerably below the average.
SMALLPOX.
There were no cases of smallpox certified in Shoreditch during 1909. In
London some 23 were certified, most of them during the latter part of the
year. There were also cases in other parts of the country. It is now nearly
five years since the last case of smallpox occurred in Shoreditch.
VACCINATION.
The official figures as to vaccination are those published in the annual
reports of the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board. The latest
relate to the year 1907. Of the births registered during that year 56.8 per cent,
were successfully vaccinated and 31.2 per cent. were not finally accounted for.
The last figure includes postponed cases. Excluding those dying un-vaccinated
33.3 per cent. of the children whose births were registered during 1907 remained
unvaccinated at the end of the year. Certificates as to conscientious objection
were received by the vaccination authorities in respect to 77 children, or 2.1 per
cent. of the births registered, as compared with 0.7 per cent. in 1906, 0.8 in
1905, 0.5 in 1904, 0.6 in 1903, and 0.3 in 1902.