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74
associated with vomiting, or of a rash of any kind, the child
should be immediately isolated from the rest of the family
and a doctor sent for.
Many of the symptoms mentioned above may be absent in
mild cases, but sore throat is a very constant symptom.
All cases of sore throat in children should, therefore, be
regarded with suspicion, and should be isolated until the
patients have been examined by a doctor.
Attention to the cleanliness and ventilation of the homes
is of great importance in preventing the spread of infectious
disease. The more thoroughly a house is purified by fresh
air or cleansed with soap and water the less likely is infection
to enter it, or to spread when once there.
G. Quin Lennane,
Medical Officer of Health.
A glance at the table at page 71 will show the wave of
epidemicity which began to rise in 1905. In 1904 the lowest
number of cases, viz., 375, ever previously reported in the
Borough was recorded. During 1905, however, Scarlet
Fever began to rise rapidly, and in that year 801 cases—more
than double the number in 1904—were notified. This
upward curve in the attack rate continued during 1906, when
210 attacks in excess of those in 1905 were recorded. That
this upward curve did not continue in Battersea during 1907
is a matter for congratulation having regard to the very great
increase (over 5,000 cases) which were recorded during the
year in the County of London.
Owing to the very mild nature of the infection, in a large
number of instances the disease was unrecognised or mistaken
for some other trifling ailment. For this reason
very many persons were infected who, had the infecting cases
been recognised and isolated before the "peeling" stage had
brought the nature of the illness to light, would have escaped.
In not a few instances several members of the same family, or
persons living in the same house, were infected from this