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realise the danger and take advantage of the protective influences
of vaccination, and that the officers responsible for enforcing the
regulations will use every endeavour to reduce the number of unprotected
persons.
Scarlet Fever.—Three hundred and eighty-three cases were
notified, compared with 368 in 1924, and 335 cases were removed
to Hospital. The disease was 6f a milder type, the mortality
being 0.5 per cent., the lowest mortality during the past ten
years. The highest was in 1918, when a case mortality of 5.8
was recorded.
Diphtheria.—Two hundred and fifty-six cases were notified,
compared with 190 in 1924. The case mortality was 6.6 per
cent.
Paratyphoid B.—An outbreak of Paratyphoid B, a mild
form of Typhoid Fever, occurred in August. At the onset, Dr.
E. Wilkinson, of the Ministry of Health, gave us valuable assistance
in our investigations. It was proved conclusively that the
outbreak originated with a large firm of Bakers and Confectioners
in the Borough of Croydon, who had branch shops in neighbouring
districts. Dr. H. P. Newsholme, the Medical Officer
of Croydon, kept us fully informed of his investigations into
the outbreak.
An investigation was made into all the food materials used
at the Central Bakery of the firm referred to, and at one time
it was thought probable food ha 1 been infected by the droppings
of rates or mice who had taken a Virus put down for their
extermination, but an examination by the Ministry of Health
of the bacteriological contents of the Virus did not correspond
with the Baccillus Paratyphoid B, so investigations on other
lines were carried out. The employees of the bakery were
examined, and although, unfortunately, the foreman pastrycook,
who was absent on holiday, was overlooked by the proprietors,
Dr. Newsholme elicited the fact that this man was unwell just
prior to leaving, and' a test of his blood showed positive reaction
to Paratyphoid B fever. -It was therefore concluded that