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189
[1905
ISOLATION OF THE NOTIFIABLE EPIDEMIC DISEASES.
No less than 1,466 out of 1,927 cases, or 76.1 per cent., were removed
to hospital for isolation and treatment during 1905, as compared with 75.5 per
cent. in 1904 and 72.6 in 1903. Indeed, the proportion of isolated cases
has risen from 48.4 per cent, in 1896, to 76.1 in 1905 so that practically at
present only the very mildest cases, which for the most part are Erysipelas,
remain at home.
Practically all the cases of Scarlet Fever, viz. 89.3 per cent., were taken
away, while as many 80 per cent, of the patients suffering from Diphtheria
were also removed to hospital. This figure is closely followed by Enteric
Fever, of which 71 per cent, of the cases were isolated. The extraordinary
willingness and, indeed, anxiety of the parents and guardians of the patients
to have them removed is one of the signs of the times, and seems to show
that the public at large are now imbued with a strong desire to protect
themselves and the public. Evidently sanitary education has been slowly
permeating the masses.

Small Pox.—Each of the two cases were removed to hospital. One
death occurred in hospital, or 50.0 per cent of those isolated.
Scarlet Fever.—No less than 1,070 out of 1,198 known cases, or 89.3
per cent., were removed to hospital, of which 36, or 33 per cent., died.
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.—281 out of 351 cases, or 80.0
per cent, were isolated in hospital, of which 26, or 9.2 per cent., died.
Enteric Fever.—100 persons were attacked, of whom 71, or 71.0 per
cent., were received into hospital. Of these 11 died, or 15.5 per cent.
The Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals received the great majority of
these cases, the particulars of which are set out in the following table.