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In diagram VIII. are shown the number of cases notified in each month during the years 1891-6
in relation to the mean of that period, and the case mortality of each month, also in relation to the
mean. Corrections have not been made for differences of age and sex distribution.
Scarlet fever—Seasonal variations in age distribution.
The question deserves to be considered whether the London figures of notification afford reason
for thinking that there is seasonal variation in age distribution of scarlet fever. There is now the
experience of five years figures available for this purpose and they are stated in tabular form below.
An examination of these figures shows that the children under five years of age who were attacked
with scarlet fever constituted at the beginning and end of the year a larger proportion of the total number
of persons attacked than at other times. There is, moreover, a general tendency for the proportion to
decrease from the beginning of the year until September or October is reached and for the proportion
to subsequently rise. There is notable exception to this rule in the month of August, due no doubt to
the closing of schools for the holidays, but apart from this the proportion in the month of March is the
only marked variation. an exception which may not improbably disappear when the statistics of future
years can be added to those of the period 1892-6: (see also "Diphtheria," page 41).

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