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12
Section II.
INFECTIOUS DISEAES.
Small-pox.—There were no cases of small-pox notified in Chelsea
in 1904.
In London, during the year 1904, 492 cases of small-pox were
notified, as against 417 in 1903. Of the 492 cases 127 occurred in
Bethnal Green, 89 in Stepney, and 42 in Poplar, so that the disease
was chiefly manifested in the Eastern Boroughs of London. The
greatest prevalence was in March, April, and May, 335 cases being
notified in these three months. The prevalence declined rapidly in
June and July. At the end of the year there was a slight recurrence
of small-pox, principally in Deptford and Woolwich. The case
mortality, or percentage of deaths to attacks of the 492 London cases
was 5.1 per cent. in 1904, as compared with a fatality of 31 per cent.
in 1903, and 16.4 per cent. during the epidemic period 1901-2.
Scarlet Fever.—This disease was less prevalent in Chelsea in 1904
than in any year since 1891, when compulsory notification commenced.
Only 108 cases were notified, equivalent to a case-rate of 14.5 per
10,000 of the population, as against 27.9 per 10,000 in 1903. In
12 weeks of the year not a single case of scarlet fever was notified in
the Borough, three out of the 12 being consecutive weeks in September,
when scarlet fever is usually increasing. The autumnal rise did not
commence until the middle of October. The number of cases notified
in the first quarter of the year was 35, in the second quarter 17, in the
third quarter 9, and in the fourth quarter 47. The number of cases
notified in North Chelsea was 57, and in South Chelsea 51. The
percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13 years) in the whole Borough
was 72 per cent. The average duration of the stay in hospital of
50 cases, of which the records are to hand, was 65 days. Sixteen cases
admitted to the M.A.B. hospitals were subsequently certified by the
Medical Superintendents of these Institutions not to be suffering from
scarlet fever or any other notifiable disease. The average duration of
the stay in hospital of these 16 cases was 24 days.
Twelve cases of scarlet fever were notified amongst children
attending the Oratory School, Oratory Lane, between the 23th October
and the 26th December. Eight of these cases were of children
attending the Infants' Department, the average number attending
school in this department being 180. The head teacher was advised as
to the precautions to be taken to prevent the possibility of any children
attending the school whilst in an infective condition.
Diphtheria.—Only 60 cases of diphtheria and one of membranous
croup were notified in Chelsea in 1904, equivalent to a case-rate of 8.2
per 10,000 of the population, the lowest rate recorded since compulsory
notification commenced. In 1903 the diphtheria case-rate was 13.4 per
10,000. In 21 weeks of the year not a single case of diphtheria was
notified in the Borough, 5 out of the 21 being consecutive weeks in
November and December, when diphtheria is generally most prevalent.
In the first quarter of the year 15 cases were notified, in the second