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of the Board of the same date, on the question of the
gratuitous provision of diphtheria antitoxin and for the
application of the same under your authority. I
attended a Conference called by the Society of Medical
Officers of Health to consider the question. A resolution
was passed that the early use of the antitoxin was
desirable, and I reported the result of the Conference's
deliberation to your Public Health Committee. Your
Committee decided that, having regard to the fact that
most cases of diphtheria are immediately removed to
hospitals, and that medical practitioners could easily
obtain a local supply of antitoxin, it was not necessary
for your Council to supply it.
WHOOPING COUGH.
Two hundred cases were reported as due to
whooping cough, against 281 cases in the previous
year. All of the cases reported last year were treated
at the homes of the patients. Twenty-six deaths
were registered. As this is not a notifiable disease
it is of no use my giving the mortality rate on the
cases reported, as doubtless a very large number of
cases occurred which were not known of in the Public
Health Department.
I have continued to receive as heretofore information
as to cases from the Head Teachers of the
Schools of the London County Council.
ENTERIC FEVER.
Thirty-one cases were reported as due to enteric
fever, against 17 in the previous year. Twenty-two
of the cases reported last year were treated at the
Isolation Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board,
four at the West London Hospital, one at the Hammersmith
Infirmary, and four at the homes of the patients.
Four deaths were registered. The mortality rate on
the cases reported was 12.9 per cent.