View report page

SCARLET FEVER.
The deaths from Scarlet Fever in the Borough were 45 during 1906,
as against 28 for the year 1905, and 12 for 1904.
It will be seen on reference to table 28 that the disease has not
increased in virulence, as the percentage of deaths to the number of cases
notified is less than that of the previous year. The large increase in the
prevalence of the complaint has been brought about by the small number
notified in each of the three previous years, and in consequence the
presence in the Borough of more than the usual number of susceptible
children. This is seen to be the case by the ages of those attacked being
above the usual average.
The removal of so large a number to hospital has been of immense
benefit to our inhabitants, not only in the removal of the sick from the
healthy, but in the better treatment of the patients, who cannot, owing to
the very limited house room at the disposal of the family, be sufficiently
cared for at home. I have no doubt that the complaint is largely spread
by the mild cases which remain often undiscovered until the peeling
stage attracts attention. This certainly has been so with many batches
of cases which have arisen in the year under consideration.
The total number of cases notified was 1,470 this year, as against
776 for 1905.
The percentage of deaths to the total cases notified was 3.0.
The annual mortality per 1,000 living was 0.21.