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15
As these figures are only based on 100 cases of scarlet fever and 79 cases
of diphtheria, more convincing figures are given by a total of 1,100 houses
invaded by scarlet fever and diphtheria during the last three years.
The total population of these at the time of invasion was 7,806, giving an
average per house of 7.1 inmates.
Comparing this with the census figures for the whole district of 5.5, there
is no doubt in my mind that overcrowding is responsible for the increased
virulence of the infections we have been suffering from during the last few
years ; the decline of this year is probably due to an exhausted pabulum.
Diphtheria.—The incidence of this disease has also lessened, whilst
nasal diphtheria which had been markedly prevalent for the last four years, has
almost disappeared.
Since the summer holidays, all children attending the school clinic for sore
throat have been swabbed—this on account of the mildness of some cases of
diphtheria occurring about that time.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, antidiphtheric
serum of 8,000 units has been stocked at the Town Hall and the
Fire Station instead of 4,000 units. Prophylactic doses of 500 units are also
available.
During the year, 14 phials of 8,000 units have been supplied by the
Council free of charge to local medical men, to whom a fee of 3/6 is paid for its
administration.
As in the previous year, all child contacts and the mother have been
swabbed; this enables the school child to return to school with less than three
days' exclusion.

We are, however, still higher than the neighbouring districts.