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In 1925 the number of notifications increased to 927, but 32
of these cases were returned from hospital certified as not suffering
from scarlet fever.
Scarlet Fever. Preventive Aspect.
Research work in connection with scarlet fever prosecuted
during the last five years has been of great importance and
promises profitable rewards to the Public Health Administrator
and the Clinician. Doctors George and Gladys Dick have advanced
the view that a particular variety of streptococcus causes
scarlet fever, that the symptoms of this disease are produced by
the toxin of this germ, and that the tissue cells of the recovering
patient provide a protective antitoxin, also that scarlet fever may
be produced by experimental inoculation with haemolytic streptococci
and cured with an antitoxin serum. But far more important,
from the preventive medicine aspect, is the claim regarding
the test for detecting susceptibility to the disease and the
possibility of immunisation with scarlet fever toxin.
If with wider experience these claims are substantiated, the
measures taken for the control of this disease will have to be
materially changed. For some time doubts have been raised as
to whether isolation in hospital and disinfection have failed in
appreciably diminishing the incidence and periodic virulence of
scarlet fever, although there can be no argument as to the value
of isolation hospitals for the treatment of serious cases and those
with complications in comparison with treatment at home.
As yet no steps have been taken in Camberwell to make use
of the Dick test or to provide facilities for conferring immunisation
to those found to be susceptible to this disease.
It must be remembered that this work can still be regarded
as being in the experimental stage, so that we must wait until
the value of the test has been proved conclusively before urging
any definite line of action with regard to the measures to be
adopted to ensure a more effective control of the occurrence of
this disease.
Anthrax.
Two cases of human anthrax occurred in Camberwell during
the past five years. A case was notified in each of the years 1924
and 1925. Investigation of the probable cause of infection revealed
that in both cases the patients were employed at a skin
dressers.
Erysipelas.
119 cases of erysipelas were notified during 1925. Of these
46 were removed to hospitals. The deaths numbered 5.