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Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
43
The 12 cases which occurred in an Institution in Clapham were
children at a home for Waifs and Strays in that sub-district. The
first two cases were notified on the 3rd March, followed by one on
the 27th, one on the gth April, one each on the 13th and the 15th,
one on the 15th May, one on the 16th July, one on the 17th, two on
the 25th August, and one on the 27th. Two of the cases were
reported not to be Scarlet Fever on admission to theFever Hospital.
The cases in July and August occurred after the return of a previous
case from hospital.
During the year Scarlet Fever was exceedingly prevalent,
although not quite so much as in 1914, not only in the Metropolis,
but in the districts surrounding it. The rate of incidence in this
Borough was slightly above that for the whole of London, the
rate in the Borough being 3.94 and in London 3.75 per 1,000 of
population. In the various sub-districts the rate was lowest in
Putney, next in Streatham, followed by Clapham, Wandsworth
and Tooting.
In spite of the fact that the number of cases notified was high,
the case mortality was very low.
The increase of work caused by the outbreak was very great,
but in spite of the depletion of the staff on account of war services
the usual inquiries were carefully carried out and all necessary
precautions taken.
Diphtheria.
The number of cases of Diphtheria notified during the year
shows an increase compared with the previous year, and is also
higher than any of the preceding 10 years.
The total number of cases notified was 723 (74 in Clapham,
37 in Putney, 140 in Streatham, 206 in Tooting, and 266 in Wandsworth),
compared with 552 in 1914, 430 in 1913, and 431 in 1912.
This number was 196 above the corrected, and 252 above the uncorrected
decennial average.