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1909]
122
for a considerable period (November 28th to December 20th) living at home,
with small pox fully developed in him, he would have infected his infant child
if it had not been vaccinated.
SCARLET FEVER.
There were 1,285 cases known in the borough, as compared with 1,409 in
the preceding year, and with a decennial corrected average of 1,283, so that
it may be said that a normal state as regards this disease existed here.
These cases were equal to an annual attack-rate of 3.66 per 1000 inhabitants,
as contrasted with a decennial rate of 3.65.
In September of the preceding year (1908), Scarlet Fever became very rife,
and remained prevalent until the end of the year, for during that month 173
cases were notified, in October 107, in November 94, and in December 87. In
January they increased to 111, in February they were 108, in March 93, in April
only 86, rising, however, in May to 105, and in June to 128. In July they were 96,
in August 97, increasing in September to 173, then dropping to 107 in October,
to 95 in November, and to 87 in December. Thus the last three months of
the year showed a great decrease when compared with the corresponding periods
of 1908. At one time, especially in the early part of the year, the Medical
Officer of Health feared that the borough was about to be afflicted with a serious
epidemic, but happily this was not to be. A study of the chart of this disease
will show more clearly that his fears were not unfounded, for therein it will be
perceived that the disease curve was for the most part above the average curve
(green on the chart) of the preceding ten years until the end of September, after
which its fall was very considerable, and the curve remained below the decennial
curve until the end of the year.
When the returns of the several quarters are examined it appears that in
the first quarter there were 312 cases, or an excess of 61 on the decennial
average; in the second quarter 319, or an excess of 48; in the third 366, or an
excess of 15. In the fourth, however, there were 288, or a decrease of 128.
In the Sub-registration Districts.—The incidence of the disease was
nearly equally distributed in these districts, although in Lower Holloway there
was a decided excess, the attack rate being 4.92 per 1000 of the population, as
compared with the rest of the borough. This rate may be partially explained
by the probability that there is a larger population of juveniles in this district
than in the others. It is not possible to dogmatise about it, as this is only a
surmise, and not an ascertained fact. The Council possess no figures as to
the ages of the population in the sub-districts, as they might have done if the
taking of the census were in their hands, as it ought to be.