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10 scarlet fever
epidemic of 1887 differed notably from that of last year, in that in the former year there were
35 deaths from scarlet fever—equal to a fatality of 6.1 per cent.—and in the latter, one death
only from that cause among the 827 cases—fatality 0.1 per cent. The figures quoted above
afford evidence of the reduction in fatality from this disease.
The tabulation given below shows that the epidemic of last year began in the third
quarter of 1920, and the figures shown in the lower half of Table VII., show how the
numbers varied from quarter to quarter in the different Wards.

The Index Numbers for the yearly totals in the Wards (see below) indicate that the
increased prevalence varied within fairly wide limits in the Wards.

Sex and Age Incidence.—There was an increased incidence on females of all ages last year,
cases among males constituting 42 per cent. of the total, and those among females, 58. Those
proportions differ but slightly from the averages for 1914-18 (males 44, females 56), and those
for 1919 (males 40, females 60). The distribution by ages, percentages of total (both sexes)
is somewhat unexpected, having regard to the remarkably low fatality. It will be seen from
the statement given below that the proportion of children under 3 years was 6.3 per cent. last
year, as compared with 4.0 per cent. in 1920, but was below the proportion recorded during
the years 1914-18 (8.9).

On comparing the numbers reported for each sex at each age last year with the records
for the years 1914-20 (see below), it will be seen that although large increases were recorded at
each and every age, the greatest increases are to be found at ages 13 years and upwards. The
increases in the numbers of males is, it is believed, unusual.