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47
FEVER.
Enteric Fever.—One hundred and seven cases were
notified during the year, against 94, 117, and 104, in the three
preceding years. The deaths were 23 (five above the corrected
average), viz., 20 in the Town sub-district, and 3 in
Brompton. Thirteen of the deaths took place in hospitals, to
which 73 cases were removed, and 10 at home. The deaths
in the three preceding years had been 15, 21, and 12. In
London, as a whole, the deaths from this cause were 801, and
189 above the corrected average. The notified cases were
4,460 in number. During the fourteen weeks ended December
2nd, no fewer than 2,288 cases were notified, against 1,437
in the corresponding weeks in 1898. The disease was unusually
fatal during the last quarter of the year (381 deaths).
In the week ended 28th October, 40 deaths were registered,
being the highest number registered in any week since
November, 1881. This number was afterwards exceeded,
51 and 55 deaths having been registered in the two weeks
ended November llth and 18th respectively. In the subsequent
two weeks, the deaths fell to 29 and 26. The
autumnal increase in enteric fever is sometimes ascribed to
drinking water derived from rivers supposed to have been
contaminated by infective material washed from land and
brooks after copious rainfall. The increase and unusual
prevalence in 1899, were coincident with exceptional drought.
Many cases of the disease are sent by the Asylums Board to
certain general hospitals, under an arrangement sanctioned by
the Local Government Board. So great was the pressure for
accommodation in the autumn, that the Managers of the
Asylums Board made arrangements with an additional hospital
for the reception of cases, in wards furnishing beds for
36 patients.
In the autumn, cases of enteric fever are not infrequently
imported from the country, and from seaside "health resorts"