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157
Seven of the deaths occurred during the first quarter of the year.
Influenza.
Influenza is not a notifiable disease, and it is difficult, therefore,
to arrive at any satisfactory estimate of the true nature and incidence
of an epidemic. The only definite information available is that
obtained from Influenzal-Pneumonia notification's which numbered
15, as compaired with 41 in 1937. On the other hand, the death returns
for the year show Influenza as the cause of death in 7 cases, as
compared with 55 cases in the previous year.
Scarlet Fever.
During the year 156 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified. (Of
these 136 were treated in Hospital.) There were no deaths.

The value of taking throat and nose swabs of contacts for
bacteriological examination for the presence of hemolytic streptococci
should be emphasized. It is an especially important procedure where
other members of the family have been ill prior to the diagnosis of
Scarlet Fever. In one case the mother and father and four children
contracted Scarlet Fever. One of the children who had been discharged
from an Isolation Hospital after Scarlet Fever, had an acute
coryzal attack a few days after his return home and a nasal swab
demonstrated the presence of hemolytic streptococci. He was again
removed to hospital, but all the remaining members of the family were
infected by him during his short period at home.
Measles.
Comity of London (Measles and Whooping Cough) Regulations, 1938.
Measles has been a notifiable disease in Hampstead since 1916, in
which year the Public Health (Measles and German Measles) Regulations,
1915, issued by the late Local Government Board began to