London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Fulham 1902

Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year ending December 31st, 1902

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Scear let Fever. Scarlet Fever was slightly less prevalent in Fulbam in 1902 than in 1901, 552 cases being notified as compared with 600 in 1901.

Cases.Deaths.
1st Quarter925
2nd1082
3rd1697
4 th1835
55219

It will be noticed 011 reference to the chart that the disease
attained its maximum prevalence in the third week of August, a
period when, owing to the schools being closed for the summer
holiday, it is usually at its lowest. This was largely due to the
occurrence of some unrecognised attacks of Scarlet Fever among
children sent into the country by the Managers of the Children's
Country Holiday Fund. In one instance, a child who was sent
to a village in Berkshire developed the disease shortly after his
arrival there, having probably been infected before leaving
Fulham and communicated it to three other children also from
Fulham, but the nature of the illness was not recognised until
after their return home when, on the occurrence of several cases
in their homes and some neighbouring houses, they were
examined and found to be evidently recovering from mild
Scarlet Fever. In another instance, a child who had been
sent to a village in Middlesex contracted Scarlet Fever while
there, but it was not until her return home, and the occurrence
there of some secondary cases, that the nature of her illness was
recognised.
Of the 552 cases, 474, or 85.9 per cent, were removed to
hospital.
Fatality.—The disease was again of a mild type, there being
19 deaths, representing a case mortality of 3.5 per cent.
Return Cases. — 16 cases occurred within 10 days of the
return of a child living in the same house from one of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals, after recovery from a
similar attack.