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of the leaden weight and knife which had not been disinfected. I do
not think F. Wi. conveyed the infection on his clothes or person, for
he had quite recovered from the disease before his return, and his
clothes had been steamed during his illness, moreover, no other
person in the shop developed the disease, although another workman
worked at his left hand side, quite as near as Charles L. on his right
hand, but the difference was that the former did not use Wi's. tools
but Charles L. did.
In connection with this outbreak, I was instructed by the Public
Health Committee to prepare a leaflet for distribution on the subject
of vaccination. A copy of this leaflet will be found in the appendix.
Scarlatina.—During the year 1900 there were 678 cases of this
disease notified in Hackney, but of these 13 were returned from the
fever hospital as not suffering from any infectious disease, thus
reducing the total to 665, against 986 cases notified during the
previous year. This shows an attack rate of 2.9 per 1,000 living.
The deaths numbered 18, which gives a death-rate of 2.65 per centum
attacked, and .08 per 1,000 of the population.
This disease has declined very much of late years in Hackney, and
I believe that speedy removal to hospital and isolation have had much
to do with this. Of the total notified during the year 454 cases were
removed to hospital—nearly 67 per cent. Knowing the infectious
character of scarlatina, it is only reasonable to suppose that the early
removal to hospital of the above proportion of cases must have assisted
largely in diminishing its prevalence. The chart, accompanying this
report, shows the progress of disease week by week throughout the year.
It will be seen that the disease fluctuated considerably during the
year, but was at the highest point of prevalence during the months
of June and October, and at its lowest early in the month of
September.
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.—During the year, 603
cases of diphtheria and 7 of membranous croup were notified, but of
these 17 cases of diphtheria were returned from the fever hospital as