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30
SPECIFIC INFECTIONS OR ZYMOTIC DISEASE.
During the year 1905 there were 1,930 cases of notifiable infectious
disease certified, but of these cases 64 were subsequently
found not to be genuine, thus reducing the total to 1,866. This
shows a considerable decline upon the numbers notified during
1904, the notifications for this latter year having been 2,375, the
decline above noted amounting to 519.
The attack rate for the year 1905 is, therefore, 8.2 per 1,000
persons living. The deaths from notifiable infectious disease numbered
84. This is equal to a mortality rate of .37 per 1,000 persons
living.
A.—NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Smallpox.—There were 4 cases of smallpox notified in the
Borough during 1905, and of these two died, neither of whom tad
been vaccinated.
Scarlet Fever.—During the year under consideration there were
1,081 cases of scarlet fever notified in the district, but of these 24
were afterwards found not to be suffering from the disease, thus
reducing the genuine cases of scarlet fever for the year 1905 to 1,057.
This is an increase of 208 upon the number notified during 1904.
The attack rate for the year is, therefore, 4.6 per 1,000 living persons.
The incidence of the disease upon the Borough remained fairly
low from January to the end of July. At this point a rise set in
which continued to increase until the second week of November,
when 42 cases were notified in that week. This rate was maintained
for about four weeks when a rapid decline set in, which continued to
the last week but one in the year, after which indications of a rise
again appeared. These movements in the incidence of scarlet fever
may be followed by consulting the annexed chart. The total
number of scarlet fever cases removed to hospital during the year
was 973, which amounts to 90 per cent. of the total notified.