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61
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The disease was most prevalent in August and November,
and least so in February. The increase in August was due to the
occurrence of several cases in Roehampton, due to an unrecognised
case. Eight cases occurred in that district caring the
month, and six at least of these were infected by one case which
was unrecognised till desquamation was noticed. There was
nothing special in the incidence of the disease in November, as
the cases occurred sporadically all over the sub-district. Three
cases, however, occurred in one home and two in another, four of
the cases having been infected by an unrecognised case.
In Streatham the maximum number of cases was notified in
November, and the minimum in August.
This disease was considerably more prevalent in Strealham
during 1907 than in the previous year. This increase was largely
due to school infection, as will be seen from the Table, the number
of cases occurring in August showing a considerable decrease
compared with July, and September a still further fall. In October
the number of cases increased and reached the maximum in
November.
The increase in November was due to an outbreak in Balham,
in a Children's Home, and occurred among children residing there.
The first case was a nurse who was notified on the 18th November,
and who, in my opinion infected the first cases. The infection
once introduced was most difficult to eradicate, as the children
being so young and the cases so mild it was impossible to detect
the disease in its earliest stages. I visited the institution myself
on two occasions in company with the medical attendant, and I
was perfectly satisfied that everything was being done to arrest
the outbreak. All the cases were removed to hospital and no
deaths occurred in 1907, but one of the cases notified in 1907 died
in January, 1908.
In all 22 cases occurred, 15 in November and seven in
December. The outbreak continued to a slight extent in January,
1908, but only three cases were notified in that month, the last on
the 13th. The premises have been thoroughly disinfected and the
children as they return from hospital are taken to another residence
in Streatham, which has been acquired for the purpose of a
Children's Home.