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34
be of material value to him in determining what action is required
by his authority to limit the extension of the disease. Short of the
adoption of these measures compulsory education will continue to be
linked with some measure of compulsory disease.
SCARLET FEVER.
The 178 cases of Scarlet Fever occurred in 142 different houses,
in 4 of which there were grave insanitary conditions; in 5 the
insanitary conditions were slight, and in the remaining there was an
absence of such conditions.
School attendance was ascribed as the origin of the infection in
17 cases; and in three cases there were strong reasons for believing
that the infection was communicated by a patient recently dismissed
from a fever hospital. The infection was imported into the Parish
in 6 instances, and in 9 instances the infection was directly contracted
from a preceding case.
In the recent Annual Eeports of the Medical Officer of the
London County Council the weekly notifications from scarlet fever
are expressed in three age groups, representing generally the preschool
age (0-3), the school age (3-13), and the post-school age (13
and upwards), and it is again shown that the decrease in the number
of cases notified during the period of holiday influence, and the
subsequent increase in the following period of school influence, is
most marked at the school age (3-13). The figures prove most incontestably
the school influence in disseminating this disease.
NOTES UPON SANITARY WORK PERFORMED
DURING THE YEAR.
It will be seen from the appended Report of the Chief Sanitary
Inspector that a large amount of sanitary work has been performed
during the year 1899. 1088 premises were inspected for conditions
injurious or dangerous to health, and insanitary conditions varying
in their nature from slight to very grave, were discovered in a large
number of instances. 384 Intimation Notices, followed in 24 cases
by Statutory Notices, were complied with.