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62
APPENDIX C.
REPORT AS TO THE
PREVALENCE OF SCARLET FEVER.
November 22nd, 1899.
The great prevalence of Scarlet Fever in Plumstead during
the past 18 months has led me to examine into the comparative
number of cases occurring in Plumstead and other parts of
London.
It appears that in 1898, Plumstead had the highest case rate
(i.e., number of cases per 1,000 population) of all the London
districts, but at least six districts had a higher death rate from
Scarlet Fever.
In 1897, ten districts had a higher case rate than Plumstead,
but the Scarlet Fever death rate in Plumstead was lower than
all the other districts with six exceptions (i.e., 28 had a higher
rate).
In 1896, twelve districts had a higher case rate, but only
four had a higher death rate.
On the whole it appears that the figures as usually given
show that Plumstead has a Scarlet Fever case rate considerably
above the average, and a death rate a little above.
But if these figures were reckoned per 1,000 children at the
susceptible age instead of 1,000 population, I have no doubt
Plumstead's position would be altered. I have only had time
to do this for Woolwich and Plumstead.
For the past three years the case rate for Plumstead was
6.2, and Woolwich 4 6, reckoned in the usual way. But when
we and the Woolwich cases which occurred in Government
buildings and were not counted in the Asylums Board's returns
of cases, and allow for the higher proportional number of
children in Plumstead under 10, the figures come to 5.2 for
Plumstead, and 5.5 for Woolwich, i.e., in proportion to the
number of children, Woolwich has more Scarlet Fever than
Plumstead.