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58
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In the latter part of the year and especially during the months of
October, a number of cases were notified from the Royal Patriotic
Asylum. In all 51 cases were notified, one in May, two in August,
five in September, 35 in October, five in November, and three in
December.
All these cases were at once removed to the Fever Hospital and
the bedding thoroughly disinfected.
In November 21 of the dormitories were fumigated, and this to
some extent lessened the outbreak, as only five cases were notified in
that month and three in December.
The disease was spread in all probability by means of articles of
clothing which were not sent to be disinfected by steam ; these articles
having been kept back by the pupils and not being the property of the
Institution itself.
The disease was of a very mild type, no death having so far
occurred among the cases notified.
The death-rate per 1,000 living was .09, compared with .05 ill
1904, and .07 in 1903, while the rate for the whole of London was .09,
compared with .08 in 1904, and .07 in 1903
The chart shows that this disease was exceptionally prevalent,
and that there were five apices, one in January, one in April, one in
May, one in August, and one in October. The greatest number of
notifications received was in the first week of October, and this was
due to the number of cases notified from the Royal Patriotic Asylum.
The smallest number was received in the last week of July.
On five occasions the number of cases per week was above 40 and on
eight below 20, the average number per week during the year
having been 28.7, compared with 15 in 1904, 16 in 1903, and 20 in
1902.
Of the total number of cases notified, viz., 1,494, 12 or .8 per
cent. were under one year of age, compared with 12 or 1.5 per cent. in
1904; 357 or 23.9 per cent. from one to five years, compared with 205