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55
SCARLET FEVER.
Scarlct Fever assumed an epidemic form throughout the
Parish of Lambeth during the year 1887. The incidence of
the disease in 995 cases was brought within the knowledge
of the Sanitary Inspectors. Doubtless many were affected
whose illness was not of a fatal character and about whom
the Inspectors received no information. Indeed the number
in the latter category must have exceeded that in the former.
The Sanitary department in a great measure is dependent for
information in regard to epidemic disease upon uncertain and
erratic sources. No system of compulsory notification is in
practice. A fatal termination of course secures a specific
return, but that at a time when sanitary measures are of
little avail. Then the initial stage of prevention has been
permitted to lapse, and with it the opportunity of limiting
the contagion to the person affected.
Medical practitioners, clergymen, school teachers and
district visitors, give the department much voluntary aid in
securing the isolation of affected persons.
In this epidemic, as in former outbreaks of Scarlet Fever,
the young were chiefly affected. 330 cases occurred in
infants below 5 years of age, 864 in children not yet 14 years
of age, whilst 15 cases alone occurred in persons above 30
years of age.
The distribution of the disease is distinctly indicated upon
the map which refers to Scarlet Fever and accompanies
this Report. The black points may be observed in clusters
in the Marsh Wards, and again in Vauxhall, whilst a small
group is apparent in the vicinity of the Stockwell Fever
Hospital.