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The fall in the total number of cases of infectious
diseases is due to a considerable decline in the amount
of diphtheria and scarlet fever, there being, roughly,
160 cases less of each disease, as compared with the
previous year, but against this must be set an increase
in the notifications of Infantile Diarrhoea, from 17 to
79. It is interesting, however, that whereas 27 deaths
during 1922 were ascribed to this disease, only 25 deaths
were attributed to it in 1923, so that we have a larger
number of cases, but a smaller number of deaths. It
is difficult to account for this marked disparity between
the figures of the two years, and one can only surmise
that the incidence of the disease during 1922 was not
fully illustrated by the number of notifications. Full
particulars of these notifications arranged according
to disease, ward and age, will be found in Table IV.,
page 36.
In the last quarter of the year measles gradually
became epidemic, and I give below a special report
on the outbreak. Apart from this there was no
matter in connection with infectious diseases during
the year calling for particular notice.
In connection with diphtheria and scarlet fever,
I have had special note made during the year as to
whether the diagnoses as notified were confirmed in
the fever hospitals to which the patients were admitted.
As a result, we find that 45 notifications of diphtheria or
16.2 per cent. of the total cases, and 64 notifications
of scarlet fever or 13.7 per cent. were not confirmed
in hospital.
There was no case of smallpox in the borough during
the year.
Measles.
During the year 1923, 1,951 cases of measles were
notified, as compared with 2,438 during the previous
year.
The deaths from this cause numbered 22, as com
pared with 41 during 1922. During recent years