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52
The man some days previous to his illness had resided
in lodgings at Portsmouth, the Medical Officer of which town
assisted me in making inquiries. The origin of infection could
not be traced.
PUERPERAL FEYER.—Seven cases occurred, none of
which were registered as fatal.
PREVALENCE OF SCARLET FEYER AND DIPHTHERIA IN
RELATION TO AGE PERIODS IN LONDON.
On examination of the returns of notification for the
whole of the County of London, it appears that the age period
of ten years and under, are credited with the largest percentage
of attacks of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.
During the year under review, 18,381 persons were
attacked with Scarlet Fever, and 12,156 Diphtheria in the County
of London.
Of the Scarlet Fever cases, 5,328 or 28.4 per cent.
occurred amongst children between the ages of one and five
years, and 6,913 or 30.7 per cent. at ages varying from five to
ten years.
Of the Diphtheria cases, 4,438 or 36.5 per cent. were
among children between one and five, and 3,832 or 31.6 per
cent. between the ages of five and ten years.
The consideration of these figures suggest the advisability
of an enquiry as to the necessity of raising the age limit
of compulsory school attendance, with a view of reducing the
extension of these diseases.
The existing regulations provide that children must
commence their school attendance at the age of five years.