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114
Scarlet Fever, of recent years, has changed from a severe to a mild
disease of childhood; so mild, in fact, that many children contract the
disease but are not sufficiently ill to be taken to a doctor, or even to
be kept indoors for more than a day or two; the disease, therefore,
goes unrecognised, and as the incubation period is a short one, large
numbers of children can quickly become infected, thereby rendering
control difficult; for this reason towards the end of the year under
review a short but sharp outbreak of this disease was experienced.
ENTERIC FEVER.
Five cases of Enteric Fever were notified during the year, and 1
case of Paratyphoid. The number of cases notified and the number of
deaths during the last five years were as follows :—
Notified.
Deaths.
1929
5
1
1930
2
1
1931
5
1
19
2
™
1933
6
3
The group of fevers coming under this heading are usually contracted
through the medium of infected food or the drinking of
contaminated water.
Two of the cases were due to the eating of shell fish and one to the
drinking of foul water whilst on holiday; the fourth case occurred in
an infant and the source of infection was not traced, whilst the fifth
proved not to be Enteric when admitted to hospital.
The case of Paratyphoid is of interest, as the disease Avas not
diagnosed during life. The patient, a young child, was admitted to
hospital with meningitis, which quickly proved fatal; after post mortem
examination the meningitis was found to be caused by the Paratyphoid
Bacillus. The mode of infection in this case could not be ascertained.
DIPHTHERIA,
Four hundred and eighty-six cases of this disease were notified,
with 12 deaths. The annual death rate per 1,000 population was 0.06
for England and Wales, 0.08 for London and 0.07 for Southwark.
Antitoxin is supplied free of charge, and 24 phials of 8,000 units
have been supplied to Medical Practitioners in the Borough during the
year.