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Section 11.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Small-pox.—As in the three previous years, 1896, 1897, and
1898, there were no cases of this disease in Chelsea in 1899. In
London during 1899, 29 cases of small-pox were notified, as against
35 in 1898. In the eight parishes forming the western district of
London (population 789,230), only one case of small-pox was notified
in 1899, as against 3 in 1898.
Scarlet Fever.—This disease was less prevalent in 1899 than in
1898, the case-rate per 10,000 of the population being 29* 1 in 1899, as
against 34"7 in 1898. The case-rate for West London was 36 0 per
10,000, and for London generally 39'9 per 10,000. The disease was
prevalent to a slightly less extent in Kensal Town than in the home
district, 56 out of the total of 282 cases belonging to Kensal Town,
Kensal Town's share of the cases in proportion to its population being
62 cases. During the past year, the incidence-rate of scarlet fever in
Chelsea was exceeded by Fulham (65.5 per 10,000), by Hammersmith
(40.6 per 10,000), by Westminster (38.3 per 10,000), and by Paddington
(29.8 per 10,000), the remaining three parishes of West Loudon having
rates below that of Chelsea. The autumnal exacerbation in prevalence
of scarlet fever in Chelsea in 1899 was only slightly marked, but the
decline did not set in until the third week in December. The fall
in notified cases following the closure of the schools (Board Schools
on the 27th July) was well marked, especially in the last two 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 70 per
cent, in Kensal Town. The unusually small fatality from scarlet fever
in Chelsea in 1899 has been already alluded to.
Diphtheria.—There was again a diminution in the prevalence of
this disease in Chelsea in 1899, as compared with 1898, the case-rate
per 10,000 of the population being 24.4, as against 28.2 in 1898. In
the home district, the diphtheria case-rate in 1899 was only 18*0 per
10,000, as against 20.3 in 1898, and 32.l in 1897. In Kensal Town,
however, the diphtheria prevalence was again above the average,
although not quite so high as in 1898.
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