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17
Section II.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Small-Pox.—There were no cases of small-pox in Chelsea in 1907.
In London, during the year 1907, only 9 cases of the disease were
notified, as against 31 in 1906, 74 in 1905, and 492 in 1904. The 9
cases in 1907 were sporadic, being distributed all over London, and
separated by considerable intervals of time from each other.
Scarlet Fever.—In 1907, 220 cases of scarlet fever were notified
in Chelsea, equivalent to a case-rate of 29 4 per 10,000 of the population,
as against 36 3 in 1906. The number of cases notified in the first
quarter of the year was 47, in the second quarter 60, in the third
quarter 36, and in the fourth quarter 77. The influence of the school
holidays in August was inappreciable, the prevalence of the disease in
July having been very slight. The maximum prevalence was reached
in October and November, the usual December decline being but little
marked. The number of cases notified during the year in North
Chelsea was 93, and in South Chelsea 127. The percentage of cases of
school ages (3 to 13 years) of the total number in the Borough was 70
per cent. as compared with 71 per cent.in 1906. The average duration
of the stay in hospital of 191 cases, of which the records are to hand,
was 61 days. as against 65 in 1906.
Nine cases admitted to the M.A.B. hospitals were subsequently
certified by the Medical Superintendents of those institutions not to be
suffering from scarlet fever or any other notifiable disease. The average
duration of the stay in hospital of these 9 cases was 16 days. Nine
cases on discharge from the M.A.B. hospitals were stated to be still
suffering from nasal or aural discharges, as against 19 cases in 1906.
So far as known, none of these cases were the means of spreading
infection after return to their homes. During the year there were 4
instances of possible " return" cases of scarlet fever, the intervals
elapsing between the return home from hospital of the infecting case
and the onset of the disease in the secondary case being respectively
3 days, 4 days (2), and 5 davs.
Special school incidence in 1907 was shown in connection with
Ashburnham and Christchurch Schools. In the former school 7 cases
of scarlet fever were notified between the 23rd January and the 14th
February in the persons of children—aged 5 to 11—attending this
school. As the result of the inquiries made and the precautions taken,
there was no further spread of the disease after the 14th February. In
Christchurch School, 9 children attending the school were notified as
suffering from scarlet fever in the month of November, the early cases
c