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in London. As regards scarlet fever, the local rate
was 6 24 against one of 572 for the whole Metropolis.
In these comparisons no allowances are made for the
differences in age and sex constitutions of the populations.
No information of a reliable nature is available
for London.
In Table 8 the variations in the numbers of cases
notified during last year in Paddington and London,
from the six year averages, are set out, together with
the sickness.rate for each disease for the last year.
Corrected figures for each district in London were not
obtainable last year.
Smallpox.—Of this disease only 4 cases, one of them
doubtful, were reported during the year, the smallest number
for any year since 1892. In London 227 cases were recorded,
733 less than the average, and the smallest total for any year
since 1891, when 114 cases were reported. During the
fourth quarter of the year only 5 cases were reported in the
whole Metropolis.
Diphtheria.—In dealing with the statistics of this disease,
notifications of membranous croup are included, the two
names representing merely different manifestations of
the same disease. The cases notified under these terms
numbered 242 in all, 234 of "diphtheria," and 8 of "membranous
croup." This total was 5 in excess of that for 1895,
140 below that for 1894, and 52 below that for 1893. The
average number for 1890.95 was 16 in excess of the total for
1896. In London the cases numbered 13,820, the highest
total since the introduction of notification, and 3,972 in
excess of the average. Last year's total was equal to an
increase of 40 per cent. over the average, and one of 22 per
cent, above the total for 1895. The diphtheria rate was
1.90 per 1,000 in Paddington, and 3.07 in London.