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17
The cases are grouped according to ages in Table III. (Appendix). Of the
cases certified 332, or 97.9 per cent, were removed to hospital, as compared
with 97.9 in 1908, 98.6 in 1907, 97.4 in 1906, 97 in 1905, and 90 in 1904. The
percentages for previous years are given in the report for 1903.
The cases certified were at the rate of 2.9 per 1,000 inhabitants, as compared
with 5.1 in 1908, 7.5 in 1907, 5.3 in 1906, 6.7 in 1905, 2.9 in 1904, 2.1 in
1903, 2.1 in 1902, 4.7 in .1901, and 2.7 in 1900. The attack rate was highest in
Acton Ward and lowest in Wenlock, being 3.9 in the former and 2.2 per 1,000
inhabitants in the latter ward. The deaths numbered 7, as compared with 28
in 1908, 28 in 1907, 20 in 1906, 27 in 1905, and 13 in 1904, the death-rate being
0.06 per 1,000 population, as compared with 0.24 in 1908, 0.24 in 1907, 0.17 in
1906, 0.23 in 1905 and 0.11 in 1904. The case-mortality was at the rate of 2.0
per cent, of the cases certified as compared with 4.7 per cent, in 1908, 3.1 in
1907, 3.1 in 1906, 3.4 in 1905, 3.8 in 1904, 2.7 in 1903, 3.3 in 1902, 3.5 in 1901,
and 5.4 in 1900. Both the death-rate and case-mortality were this year considerably
below the average. Amongst children under five years of age there
were 130 cases, with 3 deaths, the case mortality being 2.3 per cent, (allowing
for mistakes in diagnosis 2.6 per cent.), as compared with 8.9 in 1908, 7.2 in
1907, 6 in 1906, 7.7 in 1905, 7.8 in 1904, 2.7 in 1903, 5.3 in 1902, 6.8 in 1901,
and 12.0 in 1900. Amongst persons over five years of age there were 209
cases with 4 deaths; the mortality being at the rate of 1.9 per cent, of the cases
certified (allowing for errors in diagnosis 2.0), as compared with 2.2 in 1908,
1.2 in 1907, 1.3 in 1906, 1.0 in 1905, 1.8 in 1904, 2.7 in 1903, and 1.7 in 1901.
The whole of the deaths from scarlet fever were amongst children under 10
years of age.
Throughout the Metropolis some 17,272 cases were certified, the attack rate
being 3.5 per 1,000 inhabitants, as compared with 4.6 in 1908, 5.6 in 1907, 4.3
in 1906, 4.1 in 1905, 2.8 in 1904, 2.7 in 1903, 3.9 in 1902, 4.4 in 1901, and 3.0
in 1900. The deaths numbered 383, the death-rate being 0.08 per 1,000, as
compared with 0.11 in 1908, 0.13 in 1907, 0.11 in 1906, 0.11 in 1905, 0.08 in
1904, 0.07 in 1903, 0.12 in 1902, 0.13 in 1901, and 0.08 in 1900.
The above figures indicate that in Shoreditch and London generally scarlet
fever during 1909 was below the average, both in respect to prevalence and
mortality. It may also be remarked that the attack-rate and death-rate
in Shoreditch were below the average for the Metropolis.
DIPHTHERIA
The cases certified, including 4 of membranous croup, numbered 183, as
compared with 202 in 1908 and 211 in 1907. Of these 25 or 13.5 per cent, were
not regarded as diphtheria at the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
In one instance a case after removal to hospital certified to be scarlet fever
proved to be diphtheria.
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