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11
SCARLET FEVER.
Scarlet Fever was, in comparison with former years, low;
instead of from 400 to 800, only 296 cases were notified; of these,
10 died, giving a case mortality of 3.37 per cent. The number
of cases calculated per 1,000 of the population was 2.21 per
1,000; since, however, the majority of cases occur in children
below the age of 13 years, a better idea of its extent is to calculate
the case rate per 1,000 of the population below the age of 13. This
gives a case incidence of 18.2 per 1,000. The curve representing
the number of cases week by week throughout the year (opposite
page 19), shows that the seasonal distribution was about the
same as in former years, that is, low during the winter and
spring, and high in autumn.
DIPHTHERIA.
112 cases of Diphtheria were notified; of these, 12 proved
fatal, which is equal to a mortality of 107 per cent. of the cases
notified; the previous year the case mortality was 13 per cent.
A few of the notifications were confirmed by a bacteriological
investigation at the Jenner Institute. The number of specimens
derived from suspected throats sent for such bacteriological investigation
was 9; of these, 5 proved the presence of the
disease-producing bacillus, while in the remainder the bacillus
could not be found.
SMALL-POX.
Only 6 cases were notified, and there was no extension. A
most important advance seems to have been made during the
past year in the more accurate knowledge of this malady by the
discovery by Dr. Korte of the parasite of Small-pox, which has
either eluded other investigators, or, when seen, its significance
has not been appreciated. It is described as an amoeboid body
of extreme delicacy, easily ruptured by drying or by pressure,
hence, the ordinary processes used for rendering visible bacteria
quite fail. Such amoeboid bodies have no definite form when
living, for they are constantly changing their form. The amoeba
contains a large number of minute spores. The amoeba of
Chicken-pox is similar to that of Small-pox, but can be distinguished
from it by certain re-actions to staining re-agents.
If these interesting investigations are fully confirmed by
subsequent independent observers, the consequences will be
considerable and of direct advantage to the community. The
obscure cases which often puzzle the most experienced medical
men will be referred for scientific investigation to the microscopist
and bacteriologist, and with more certainty than hitherto be
identified. This in many instances will be of the greatest
importance.