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123
[1909

Hospital Isolation.—Of the 1,285 notified cases, as many as 1,199 were
removed to hospital for isolation and treatment, leaving only 80 at home. Thus
93.3 per cent. were isolated, which is a truly large proportion. In 1908 the percentage
was 90.4, and in 1907 it reached the astounding figure of 94.4 per
cent. Such percentages as these naturally suggest the query, could none of
the cases be treated at home ? There is very little doubt that they could.
Londoners, however, seem to have a dread of this disease, and with few exceptions,
readily send their children to hospitals, where they are well treated at the
expense of the ratepayers in general, while the parents are saved the cost,
which is no small one, as well as the great inconvenience of having the patient
nursed at home.
Fatality.—The fatality was exceedingly small, as there were only 25
deaths among the 1,285 cases, or 1.9 per cent. Only on two previous occasions
has this low rate been reached, namely in the years 1898 and 1907. During the
10 years 1891-1900 the percentage was 3.3, while in the eight years 1901-8 it
has been 2.6. This fatality is very different to that which obtained 50 years
ago, when the disease, as noted in another part of the report, was of a
much more serious type.