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86
On the 10th of October, I was informed that Scarlet
Fever had broken out in four or five families of this
poor part of West Streatham. I at once visited the
locality, saw the medical men in attendance, and invited
their co-operation in removal for the future, and in the
isolation of those now being treated at home.
I also visited the Board Schools, and finding there
were very few absentees, concluded the outbreak was
limited, I put the teachers on their guard. The Inspector
visited the infected houses from time to time and
distributed disinfectants. When the children recovered
the houses were disinfected and purified in the usual
way, and I had the satisfaction of knowing an extension
of the disease was prevented by prompt and vigorous
sanitary measures.
These outbreaks of Small Pox and Scarlatina supply
some recent facts in support of notification of infectious
diseases.
Diphtheria caused seven deaths and Typhoid Fever
only two. One death was ascribed to Typhus. All
these deaths occurred between May and December, and
were widely separated. The premises in every case
were carefully inspected for sanitary defects, and the
water and milk supply inquired into.
It is to be regretted that Diphtheria should be excluded
from the Asylums Board Hospitals. Its treatment
requires isolation equally with that of other fevers, and
its treatment could be better undertaken since operative
measures are sometimes called for.
Measles was very prevalent during the first half of
the year, and caused 21 deaths. It was more fatal than