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104
Scarlet Fever.—67 deaths were due to this cause, 38 at
the Isolation Hospitals and 29 at their homes. 1256 cases
were notified compared with 887 in 1892. This district
in common with the rest of London suffered from a serious
epidemic of scarlet fever. The available hospital accommodation
was exhausted by the middle of June, and from
that time onwards there was very great difficulty and
delay in obtaining the removal of patients. This difficulty
was partially overcome by the opening of the Fountain
Hospital at Tooting, but we can not doubt that the spread
of the disease was extended by the non-removal of illisolated
cases. The case mortality during the year was
5.3 per cent. 598 patients were removed to hospital
or 47.6 per cent. of the whole and the mortality of those
removed was 6.3 per cent. and of those not removed 4.4.
During 1892, 50.3 per cent. of the total number notified
were removed to the Isolation Hospitals.
Diphtheria.—During the year 398 cases of diphtheria
and 33 of membranous croup were reported, as compared
with 242 and 17 in the previous year. There were
99 deaths from diphtheria; 54 at their homes and 45 at
the hospitals, and 17 from membranous croup, all at their
own homes. The case mortality of the two diseases
together was therefore 26.9 per cent.
This shows how large a proportion of the cases reported
succumb, and should emphasize the necessity for more
extended recognition of the infectiousness of diphtheria,
and also of the importance of isolating doubtful cases of
sore throat. Of the whole number, 121 or 28 per cent.
were removed to hospital, so that the mortality at home
and at the hospitals was 22.9 and 37.2 per hundred cases
respectively.
Enteric Fever.—The number of cases was 108, compared
with 86 last year. The number of deaths was 18,