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22
The attack rates in the metropolitan boroughs are shown in Table 2, and the
diagram on page 160 shows the location of cases (unconfirmed) reported daily from
10th June, 1950, to 30th December, 1950. It is noteworthy that in Greenwich,
Woolwich and Stepney which had low incidences in 1947, and again in 1949, suffered
higher than average attack rates in 1950, but Poplar has remained an area of low
incidence in all three years.
Rheumatic
fever

No clear post-war trend can be discovered. The 1950 figures indicate an upward
fluctuation in the death-rate, but it is gratifying that there were only 4 deaths under
15.
Scabies
Scabies became notifiable in London in August, 1943. Notifications in 1950
numbered 823, compared with 1,311 in 1949. The effect of improved control resulting
from notification may be reflected in the persistent decline in incidence shown by
the figures in Table 9 (page 143). Excellent progress has been made. The attack rate
(0.243 per 1,000) in 1950 was less than one-thirtieth of the rate experienced seven
years earlier.
Scarlet fever
The incidence of scarlet lever was lower than in 1949. There were 4,157 cases
(1.23 per 1,000), compared with 4,945 (1.46 per 1,000) in the previous year. There
were 4 deaths only from scarlet fever or streptococcal sore throat in 1950. Fifty
years ago the annual death roll in London amounted to over 300.
Smallpox
Whooping
cough
There was no notification of smallpox of London residents in 1950.
There were 10,875 notifications of whooping cough during the year, compared
with 5,754 in 1949 and 10,450 in 1948. As can be seen from Table 11 the incidence
varies considerably from year to year. There were 30 deaths, giving a death-rate of
0.009 per 1,000 (crude case mortality 0.28 per cent.). Corresponding rates for 1949
were 0.008 per 1,000 and 0.47 per cent. It will be seen from Table 3 that the fatality
from this disease which had been falling since before the turn of the century, has
fallen with dramatic rapidity in more recent times.
Infectious
disease in
schools
The number of cases of infectious disease reported from schools in 1950 and
other years is shown in Table 14 (page 146). 1950 was the third successive light year
for German measles. The decline in the incidence of ringworm continues. The
downward trend of scabies, already remarked upon, is reflected in the school figures.
There was also a further fall in the incidence of impetigo. The incidence of scarlet
fever was lower than in 1949. Whooping-cough was more prevalent than in the
previous year. The incidence of chicken-pox was normal. Measles incidence was
sub-normal (see above, page 20). Cases of mumps were much more numerous than
in 1949.
Tuberculosis
Detailed figures of new cases of tuberculosis notified in 1950 are shown in
Tables 10 to 13 (pages 143 to 146). Non-civilians are included in the statistics and
total populations are used.