View report page

62
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Of the total cases of scarlet fever, viz.: 893,777, or 87 per cent.,
were removed to hospital.
The greatest number of cases were notified in the last four
months of the year. During the preceding eight months the number
of cases had been small, but in September the numbers increased
rapidly, reaching the maximum in December.
Diphtheria.
This disease was more prevalent during the year, especially
in October, November and December.
The number of cases was 38 above the number in 1918, and
16 above the corrected decennial average.
Of the 525 cases, 427, or 81 per cent., were removed to hospital.
The increase in the number of cases of this disease was general
throughout London and as a consequence of this increase and
also the fact that hospital accommodation was limited on account
of the use of several of the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board as war hospitals, some difficulty was experienced in having
the cases promptly removed.
In all cases where delay was experienced a free supply of antitoxin
was issued to any medical practitioner on application at the
Public Health Department, and during the last three months
68 vials of 4,000 units each were issued.
In a number of cases anti-toxin was procured by medical
practitioners from other sources.
The number of dwellings in each sub-district and the whole
Borough in which multiple cases occurred is shown in the next
Table.
There was no special outbreak during the year.