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39
Return Cases.—This term is applied to cases of Scarlet Fever which occur in a house
within 28 clays of the return from hospital of a previous case.
12 such cases occurred during the year, one of which proved fatal.
Special inquiries are made into these cases, with the object of discovering any possible
source of infection.
Considerable interest has been taken in this disease during the year, owing to research
work carried out in America by Drs. G.. F. and G. H. Dick. These workers claim to have
definitely identified a certain germ (Streptococcus Hsemolyticus) as the cause of the disease.
They have devised a method of testing susceptibility to infection, and also a process of
immunisation against the disease. Further research is being made; but there appears to be
every reason to assert that the above work has definitely increased our knowledge concerning
Scarlet Fever, and may ultimately lead to the introduction of methods which will give protection
against infection.
DIPHTHERIA.
62.3 cases were notified during the year. It was subsequently found that in 118 cases
the diagnosis was incorrect and these patients were not suffering from this disease. The
corrected number of cases was, therefore, 505, equal to an incidence rate of 2.3 per 1,000 of
population.
The number of deaths certified during the year as being due to Diphtheria was 22, equal
to a death rate of 0.10 per 1000 of population, and a case mortality of 4.4 per cent, of the
cases notified.
This rate of mortality is the lowest yet recorded for the Borough.

Of the 623 cases notified, 616 (98.9 per cent.) were removed to hospital. 612 were
admitted to Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals, and 4 cases to other hospitals.