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76
Medical Officers of Health Annual Report.
Small Pox.
Notwithstanding the prevalence of Small
Pox in the Metropolis, in which during the previous
year we participated to a certain extent, yet owing to
the prompt measures that were taken in the various
cases that came under notice, the disease was arrested
and no cases have occurred since November, 1893.
Measles
The mortality from Measles was higher than
in the previous year. Whether this was due to the
greater prevalence of the disease or to its more fatal
character it is impossible to say, Measles not being a
notifiable disease.
Scarlet Fever.
The epidemic of Scarlet Fever which began
in 1892 and increased in intensity during 1893, has been
greatly on the decline during the year under report, the
disease being still of a very mild type, as indicated by the
low mortality of two out of the two hundred and thirty
cases notified. Both deaths occurred at the house of the
patients.
The low death-rate is undoubtedly in no small
measure attributable to the greater care and attention
consequent upon compulsory notification. In former
days a large mortality often followed mild epidemics of
the disease from want of this very care and isolation.
One hundred and forty-five of the cases were removed
to hospital.
Diphtheria.
During the year, forty-two cases of Diphtheria
were notified, fifteen of which were removed to hospital.
Ten deaths occurred from the disease eight of which
were at the homes of the patients and two in hospital.
Although the number of notifications was nearly
fifty per cent. below that of the previous year, the
mortality was somewhat higher.