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Section II.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Small-pox.—As in the two previous years, 1896 and 1897, thero
were no cases of this disease in Chelsea in 1898. In 1895, there wero
4 cases; in 1894, 12 cases; in 1893, 29 cases; and in 1892, 4 cases.
In London, during 1898, 35 cases of small-pox were notified, as against
105 cases in 1897, 260 cases in 1896, 1,076 cases in 1895, 1,391 cases
in 1894, 2,933 cases in 1893, and 436 cases in 1892. In the 8 parishes
forming the western district of London (population 781,395) only
3 cases of smail-pox were notified in 1898, as against 5 in 1897, and
35 in 1896.
Scarlet Fcrer.—This disease was less prevalent in 1898 than in
1897, the case-rate per 10,000 of the population being 34.7 in 1898, as
against 50.4 in 1897. The case-rate for West London was 35.1 per
10,000, and for London generally 37.6 per 10,000. The disease was
prevalent to about the same extent in the home district and in Kensal
Town, 69 out of the total of 336 cases belonging to Kensal Town,
Kensal Town's share of the cases in proportion to its population being
72 cases. During the past year the incidence-rate of scarlet fever in
Chelsea was exceeded by Fulham (66 per 10,000), and by Hammersmith
(43.3 per 10,000), the remaining parishes of West London having rates
below that of Chelsea. The autumnal exacerbation in prevalence of
scarlet fever in 1898 was only slightly marked, but there was a steady
decline in prevalence towards the end of November. The fall in
notified cases following the closure of the schools (Board Schools on tho
21st July) was well marked, especially in the last three weeks of
August. The percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13 years) was
67 per cent, in Chelsea, 66 per cent, in the home district, and 72 per
cent, in Kensal Town.
Diphtheria.—There was a slight diminution in the prevalence of
this disease in Chelsea in 1898, as compared with 1897, the case-rate
per 10,000 of the population in Chelsea being 28.2, as against 32.4 in
1897. In the home district the diminished prevalence of diphtheria
was considerable, the case-rate for 1898 being only 20.3 per 10,000, as
against 32.1 per 10,000 in 1897. In Kensal Town, however, there was
more diphtheria in 1898 than in any year since 1890, when diphtheria
last assumed an epidemic form there.