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57
small-pox. Fortunately, no contacts in the Borough
contracted the disease.
A number of patients with a rash or symptoms suggestive of
the possibility of small-pox have been seen in past years, in consultation
with medical practitioners, but in every case they were
found to be suffering from maladies other than small-pox.
Information has also been received from time to time of the
arrival in this Borough of contacts of cases that have occurred on
hoard ships and also of passengers who had arrived from infected
ports. These were kept under observation daily until the incubation
period had passed.
The danger of a serious epidemic of this disease occurring in
England is always possible, due to the absence of systematic
vaccination, and until the people of this country realise the value
of vaccination there will always remain a large section of the
community susceptible. It is only by the vigilance of the medical
profession that an epidemic on a large scale has not occurred.
Diphtheria.
The number of cases of this disease notified during 1925 was
934. Of these 907 were admitted to hospitals. This is an increase
of 103 in the number notified during 1924. 27 cases were returned
from hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board certified as
not suffering from diphtheria. The deaths numbered 40. There
were 87 secondary cases. The ages groups which claimed the
greatest number of cases were Ito 5 and 5 to 15. Of the 189
children notified between the ages of 3 and 5, 67 were attending
schools.