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27
SMALL POX.
(No deaths. Decennial average 2.3.)
Only two cases of this disease were notified during the year; both
were found to be chicken pox ; one was removed to hospital before
I saw it and was sent home again ; the other I saw before removal
and advised its being kept at home, it proved to be a bad case of
chicken pox such as a medical man who had never seen the true
disease might be justified in notifying. As there is often considerable
doubt in the minds of inexperienced practioners as to the
diagnosis between small pox and chicken pox, I think the latter
disease should be made notifiable as chicken pox.
SCARLET FEVER.
(24 deaths. Decennial average 50'5.)
The number of Scarlet Fever cases notified during the year was
700 ; about half the number reported during the previous year.
The deaths numbered 24, a rate on the notifications of 3'43 per cent.
The Scarlet Fever death rate was equal to 018 per thousand population
at all ages; whilst that for the whole of London was 0.17.
In the North district 309 cases were reported ; thirteen resulted in
death; in the South there were 191 with three deaths, and in the
East 187 cases with eight. Amongst the notified cases in this last
district were one at the Workhouse and nine at the Children's Home
in Bonner Boad, none of which were fatal.
The Inspectors' report of the sanitary condition of the houses
where Scarlet Fever was notified give the following particulars :—
In 310 instances everything was found to be in a fairly satisfactory
condition. In 162 the closets were faulty; in 27 the internal drainage
arrangements were defective; and in 23 the outside drainage
arrangements required amendment; in three the domestic water
supply was found to be drawn from the W.C. cistern; in two
instances the premises were overcrowded ; whilst other minor insanitary
conditions were present in 233.
Eighty.three of the cases occurred amongst families inhabiting