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The following Table shows the number of cases of diphtheria and the mortality during 1914
and in previous years:—
Diphtheria in Kensington, 1901-1914.
Year.
Cases
notified.
Case-rate per 1,000
of population.
Deaths.
Death-rate per 1,000
of population.
Case-mortality
per cent.
1901—1910
1,850
1.06
212
0.12
11.5
1911
212
1.23
20
0.12
9.4
1912
180
1.05
5
0.03
2.8
1913
124
0.72
7
0.04
5.6
1914
190
1.11
13
0.08
6.8
The disease in certain patients was severe in type, but the case fatality was below the
average. The number of cases notified were 5 above the annual average of 185 cases during the
ten years 1901—1910.
SCARLET FEVER.
During the year 943 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified, and of these 17 proved fatal. The
seasonal incidence of the disease which has already been shown with that of diphtheria, attained its
maximum in Kensington as in the country as a whole during the months of October and November.
As in London and elsewhere the number of cases notified has been very excessive and more than
550 above the annual average for the ten years, 1901—1910.
Scarlet Fever in Kensington, 1901-1914.
Year.
Cases
notified.
Case-rate per 1,000
of population.
Deaths.
Death-rate per 1,000
of population.
Case-mortality
per cent.
1901—1910
3,870
2.22
115
0.07
3.0
1911
227
1.32
3
0.02
1.3
1912
297
1.73
5
0.03
1.7
1913
552
3.21
3
0.02
0.5
1914
943
5 50
17
0.10
1.8
In 184 instances inquiry elicited a definite history of contact with persons suffering from Scarlet
Fever. One hundred and fourteen cases were due to infection in schools; 43 were due to contact
with persons recently discharged from hospital after an attack of Scarlet Fever; 9 arose from
contact with "missed cases" or persons who had suffered from unrecognised attacks of the disease.
In 16 cases the infection was derived from sources beyond the Borough. Twenty patients acquired
the disease in hospital, and 24 from playmates outside school. Defects in the drainage system
were found in 108 of the houses where Scarlet Fever occurred.
ENTERIC FEVER.
The number of cases of enteric fever notified during the year was only 10, the number of deaths
being one. Such figures are too insignificant to afford a proper basis for discussing the seasonal
incidence and the fatality of this disease in Kensington. In the decennium 1901-1910, the receipt
of 529 notifications of typhoid fever and the occurrence of 86 deaths gave an annual average of
53 cases and 9 deaths. The following figures show the diminished prevalence of the disease during
the last three years : —
Decennium 1901—1910 Cases 529 Deaths 86
Average „ „ „ 53 ,, 9
1911 ,, 20 ,, 4
1912 ,, 15 ,, 4
1913 „ 27 ,, 6
1914 10 „ 1
Of the 10 patients notified, one had acquired the infection beyond the boundaries of the
Borough. In two cases the disease was alleged to have followed the consumption of shell-fish,
and in 7 cases no clue as to the source of infection could be obtained.