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Out of the total of 273 cases of diphtheria and membranous croup
notified in Chelsea in 1898, 119 cases belonged to Kensal Town, the
share of the latter district in proportion to its population being only 59
cases. The greatest prevalence of the disease in Kensal Town was in
May, when 29 cases were notified. In June there were 13 notifications,
in July 14, and in August 18. After this date the disease rapidly
subsided, only 17 cases being notified in the last four months of the
year.
In the home district the largest number of cases notified in any
one month was in January (21 notifications). In February there were
11 notifications, in March 10, in April 12, in May 12, in June 10, in
July 14, in August 7, in September 13, in October 7, in November 10,
and in December 14. In the first six months of tho j'ear 82 cases wero
notified, and in tho last six months 71 cases, contrary to what usually
occurs, diphtheria being a disease usually showing a tendency to prevail
most in the autumn months.
The percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13 years) was 662 per
cent. in Chelsea, 59.5 per cent. in tho homo district, and 74.8 per cent.
in Kensal Town. The fall in notified cases following the closuro of the
schools at midsummer was well marked in tho homo district; but in
Kensal Town 11 cases of school age were notified during tho four
weeks following the closure of the schools as against 7 in tho preceding
four weeks. The decline in Kensal Town set in with tho thirty-third
week of the year, some three weeks after school closure (July 21st), only
2 cases of school age being notified from the thirty-third to the thirtysixth
weeks, as against 11 cases in the four weeks preceding the
thirty-third week. A similar decline of diphtheria (school age) cases
in Chelsea at the same period was noticed in 1897.
Prevalence of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria in TVest London.
Tho following Table XI. is based upon the notified cases of
diphtheria and membranous croup, and of scarlet fever respectively in