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44
Scarlet Fever.
Scarlet fever was more prevalent during 1925 than in the
previous year, and 497 cases were notified, as compared with 378
in 1924, 409 in 1923, 750 in 1922, and 1,374 in 1921. It is therefore
to be anticipated in accordance with epidemiological
experience that we may be on the upward curve of a wave of
cyclical epidemicity which characterises this and other common
infections. The case-rate per 1,000 of the population was 2.9, and
8 deaths were registered from the disease, giving a death-rate of
.046 per 1000, as compared with 3 deaths and death-rate of .018
in 1924, 6 deaths and a death-rate of .035 in 1923, and 13 deaths
and a death-rate of .077 in 1922.
Of the cases notified 489; or 98.4 per cent., were removed to
hospital. The infected houses numbered 425.
In 54 of the notified cases (not included in the above total) the
diagnosis of scarlet fever was not confirmed at hospital.
Scarlet fever of late years has become a mild disease. Indeed,
the very mildness of the clinical manifestations which, in the
majority of cases the disease has shown, has rendered it difficult,
in many instances, to diagnose, and in a number of cases children
are found in the desquamative or "peeling" stage before the nature
of the disease is recognised. It is therefore a difficult matter to
control the incidence of the disease, and the effect of removal to the
Isolation Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board as a precaution
against the spread of infection appears to be of doubtful
value from this standpoint. Except where the environmental
circumstances are unsatisfactory, rendering hospital treatment
necessary or desirable, it becomes a question whether the accommodation
of the Board's Hospitals should not be utilised to a
greater extent for other diseases, e.g., measles and whooping cough,
which are much more dangerous to young children.
Diphtheria.
The number of cases of diphtheria notified in Battersea during
1925 was 396, as compared with 372 in 1924, 374 in 1923, 670 in
1922, and 713 in 1921.
The number of deaths registered from the disease was 10,
giving a death-rate of 0.58, as compared with 25 deaths and a
death-rate of 0.15 in 1924, 34 deaths and a death-rate of 0.20 in
1923, and 58 deaths and a death-rate of 0-34 in 1922.
Of the 396 cases notified, 392 or 99.0 per cent, were removed
to hospital. The infected houses numbered 337.
In 61 cases (not included in above total), the diagnosis of
diphtheria was not confirmed at hospital.