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being 3 from South Camberwell, 12 from North Camberwell, 7 and
9 from North and South Peckham respectively, and 2 from
St. George's. In all a total of 33, rather less than half the number
for the previous year.
There were 24 deaths from diphtheria, being 3 more than in
the previous year, when all the districts were credited with deaths.
This year Dulwich escaped, but there were increases in South Camberwell,
North Camberwell, and South Peckham, with decreases in
North Peckham and St. George's. The figures were—South Camberwell
4, North Cambervvell 8, South Peckham and North Peckham 5
each, and 2 in St. George's. The notifications were 80 more than
last year, and the increase, although specially marked in South
Peckham, was apparent in all districts except North Peckham, where
there was a decrease, and Dulwich, which remained about the same.
We received information as to a good number of children who
were excluded from school on account of sore throat. In all cases
the Sanitary Inspectors visited the homes and made inquiries, and
when I judged it necessary, I myself called to make inquiries and
took a specimen for bacteriological analysis, the object being to
ensure, so far as possible, that there was no unrecognised case of
diphtheria residing in the house.
The notifications of scarlet fever were 123 more than last year,
the great increase being in South Peckham, where they were more
than double the number of last year. There was no school which
seemed to have any special influence in the spread.
During the year there were several reports from the schools
of cases of peeling, with or without a history of slight illness or
rash among those actually in attendance. These were in each instance
visited either by the Sanitary Inspector or myself and inquiries
made. The information from the school also sometimes contained
either a form of, or a request for, a certificate that the child was in a
fit condition to resume attendance. This matter was always referred
to the parents in order that they might call in medical advice. It
seemed to me if the certificates were signed by an official of the
Borough Council that that body was saddling itself with a responsibility
that is not imposed on it; and, further, it seems just that
the authority to exclude the children should also be the one to
re-admit them.
In consequence of the prevalence of small-pox, chicken-pox was
made a notifiable disease in the early part of the year, and we
received a total of 253 notifications.
Ten of these I visited, either at the request of the medical man,
or else on account of the age of the patient being over that usually
found in those attacked by this disease, but in each case I came to
the decision that the original diagnosis was correct.
One small-pox notification was received from Dulwich. On
visiting the patient the signs were by no means characteristic of
the disease, and I advised that she be not removed. The other
inmates of the house, however, were nervous, and in spite of their
own doctor's concurrence in the course advised, they wished for her