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77
SMALL-POX.
No case of the disease was notified during the year.
Deaths from Small-pox during the last ten years:—
1903 — 1908 —
1904 1 1909 —
1905 — 1910 —
1906 — 1911 —
1907 — 1912 —
SCARLET FEVER.
The deaths from Scarlet Fever in the borough were 6 during 1912,
as against 6, 9, 14, 24 and 35, for the preceding five years. The old order
of things during the last few years has completely changed. The usual
cycle of incidence of the disease has disappeared and we can no longer
count upon years when the complaint will be mild or severe. The
mortality from Scarlet Fever is simply vanishing. The year under
consideration and last year show the smallest number of deaths in this
district since any record was published. 500 cases of Scarlet Fever, or
of diseases simulating Scarlet Fever, were notified to me during 1912.
This shows that the complaint has become much less dangerous as the
number of cases notified has not diminished in the same proportion as
the deaths during the last few years. It must, therefore, be said that
the type of the disease is changing. This change must in a large
measure be due to the better housing of the people, as the cumulative
effect in years gone by of the poison in overcrowded rooms was seen to
be so deadly.
No particular outbreak needs mention as the cases were pretty
evenly distributed throughout the district.
It only remains to be stated that all the cases were carefully inquired
into and directions given. Contacts were also duly notified to other
boroughs.
The total number of cases notified was 500, as against 480 for 1911.
the percentage of deaths to the total number notified was 1.2.
The annual mortality per 1,000 living was 0.03.