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It will be seen from the table that there was a large increase in the scarlet
fever in the borough in 1914. More cases of scarlet fever were notified in
St. Pancras than in any previous year since 1893, though in 1902 the numbers
were only slightly less (1,200). The epidemic affected the whole of London.
Reference to the table inset at page 27 will show the weekly distribution of
the cases throughout the year. As usual, the disease was most prevalent
during the autumn, the numbers rising during the latter part of August,
remaining high during September, October and November, and falling again
in December. The amount of scarlet fever during the rest of the year also
was greater than usual.
There was a corresponding increase in the number of deaths from scarlet
fever during 1914, the mortality being greater than in any year since 1908.
The percentage case-mortality, however, remained very low (1.61 per cent.)
though it was higher than in the two preceding years.
The notification rate of scarlet fever per 1,000 population for the County
of London was 5.54, practically the same as that for St. Pancras. Eleven
Metropolitan boroughs had notification rates greater than St. Pancras and 15
(exclusive of the City) less. The death-rate from scarlet fever per 1,100
population for the County of London was 0.07.
Of the notified cases of scarlet fever 1,102 (or 91 per cent.) were removed
to hospital, as follows:—
To Metropolitan Asylums Board hospitals1072
To other hospitals 30
1102
During the autumn months, when the disease reached its highest incidence,,
the Metropolitan Asylums Board were unable to admit all notified cases
without delay. The Board sent a letter to the Metropolitan Medical
Officers of Health, asking that removal should be asked tor only in those
cases where proper accommodation could not be provided at home. Owing
to the tenement house system of housing in this borough the vast majority of
cases belonged to the latter class, but a certain number of cases which otherwise
would have been removed to hospital were treated at home, thus
accounting for the somewhat diminished percentage of removals during the
year. Delay also arose in the removal of some of the cases for whom hosp tal
accommodation was ultimately found.
Return Casks of Scarlet Fkver.
The definition of "return-case" of scarlet fever adopted is as follows:—A
return-case of scarlet fever is one beginning within 28 days of the return from
hospital to the same house of a previous case of scarlet fever.
Upon this definition there were 46 return-cases of scarlet fever during 1911.
These were made up as follows:—
Houses with one return-case only 24
,, ,, a series of 2 return cases 8
„ „ „ „ 3„ „ 2