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34
In other words 128 cases of scarlet fever occurred in 56
houses, two or more members of the same family or persons living
in the same house being infected. In most cases the source of
infection was traceable to the presence of a mild unrecognised
case, or to some suspicious illness from which one or more members
of the family or families residing in the house was suffering.
"Return cases," i.e., cases infected by a patient recently discharged
from hospital, were relatively considerably fewer than in
the previous year, the percentage of "return cases" to total cases
being 3.51, as compared with 4.92 in 1911. The number of cases
sent back from hospital notified as scarlet fever, and in which
the diagnosis was found to be erroneous, was 35 or 7.5 per cent.,
as compared with 8 per cent, in 1911.
Diphtheria.
The number of diphtheria notifications (including membranous
croup) received during 1912 was 210, as against 208 notified during
1911. During the decennium 1902-1911, there has been a marked
decrease in the number of diphtheria cases notified in the Borough
as compared with the preceding decennium.